College Athletes

Re “Reward College Athletes by Paying Them for Play,” Campus Correspondence, Feb. 26: The assertion that Jeff Zeleny made concerning the payment of college athletes overlooked the blaring fact that many athletes receive scholarships from the schools at which they play. I do not think that student athletes should be paid in addition to the money that they receive for their education.

I believe that the NCAA has made a wise decision in maintaining the amateur status of college athletes. An education is an outstanding reward for playing a sport!

SENYA L. HERRON

Upland

The game is its own reward. A stipend, per Zeleny’s suggestion, would not prevent the flood of gifts and under-the-table bonuses that star athletes receive. It is my impression that better-performing athletes are recruited from high school on athletic scholarships. This is in essence a basic stipend. How about a bonus on top of that for stellar academic performance as well as athletic prowess?

DAVID WALKER

Laguna Hills