The only other school banned from providing distance learning?
From the American School front page:
“Our students are all ages and from all walks of life. Even well-known celebrities like Dancing with the Stars winner Donny Osmond …”
Donny Osmond? Count me among those convinced that the NCAA is controlled by an anti-Mormon cabal.
Inside Higher Ed: Black Mark for BYU
Speaking as someone who has no idea what he’s talking about, it sure sounds like the Independent Study program is ripe for abuse. It also seems like a cash cow! I can see why the NCAA banned it (abuse) and I can see why BYU is fighting it (money). But what should really happen is that all schools ban it (because of the abuse and money).
Anyone care to defend the program?
The expropriation of the market value of pre-professional football players is a core business for NCAA schools (I know, because I read that somewhere).
I do tend to believe that BYU got singled out because it happened to be the biggest online grade mill in the country (and because Michael Lewis mentioned the program in his book).
There are no angels here. The NCAA is a mess and they’re putting on a show by singling out BYU. That said, so is BYU when they single out athletes like Harvey Unga for sacrifice on the PR altar.
Let’s be clear about one thing: there has always been a two-tier system at BYU. The only tables chugging pitchers at our gigs in Provo were BYU athletes. I earned my varsity letters in football and track, and when I got to Helaman Halls, all of a sudden, the “athletes” were eating on one side while the rest of us ate on the other. Even though I was never going to be big enough to play college ball, go figure that I didn’t appreciate the vibe I got from the setup at the cafeteria. Size mattered to BYU, obviously. Maybe it was only BYU in the late 80’s. I don’t know what it’s like now, but if it’s still the same, it’s institutionalized bullshit.
Here’s a story: My roommate my freshman year arrived ranked 5th in the country in high school tennis. He had a buddy who showed us hometown newspaper clippings describing his triumphs as an Ohio high school running back. Anyways, it’s the first week at BYU and the three of us go for breakfast. Of course, I’m the kind of asshole who immediately figures out that all the losers are grazing on one side, while the other side is pretty much quiet. So, I go to where staff seem to be waiting patiently for a breakfast order, only to be informed that it’s a section reserved for athletes. As a newbie, I protested (loudly) that I was also an athlete, and asked why I couldn’t get served, no doubt embarrassing the few patrons who’d already been seated. On the way out, one of the freaks of nature decided to follow us out (yeah, if you’re playing college or pro ball you’re already a freak by definition) and let us know that we ought to quietly return to the faggot seating.
My buddies (who were 10x tougher in real life than me) were the ones shushing me. Just walk away, they whispered.
And I did.
Maybe the average LDS can’t understand this, but here goes: I was raised to believe that BYU was about God and Country, but wound up finding out it’s all about Football.
Whatever. I was 20 years old then. We were all little more than fresh meat back then. I’m 40 years old now. I have another 40 to go. I’m done walking away.
Pity that somebody’s Organizational Behavior PhD didn’t make a difference back then. It’s too late to make a difference now.