This past Tuesday, March 5th, the Dartmouth College basketball team voted to unionize, with 13 of the 15 players in favor of the sentiment. Some say this decision marks a significant development in the ongoing debate regarding the treatment of NCAA athletes. The players have formed the Dartmouth College Basketball Players Association and have already filed paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board. In their move to unionize, they are prioritizing the push for increased benefits and rights for college athletes, asserting that they are “amateur employees” of the university. This decision comes amidst broader discussions about the exploitation of NCAA athletes and the inequities they face despite generating substantial revenue for their institutions.
The Dartmouth players’ decision to unionize may indicate a potential shift in the power dynamics within college sports, with athletes increasingly fighting to establish their rights and demanding fair treatment. This move may have broader implications for the NCAA and its amateurism model, potentially paving the way for other college athletes to pursue similar actions. However, how the NCAA, colleges, and lawmakers will respond to this growing movement is still unknown, and whether their response will lead to significant reforms in the treatment of student-athletes is another mystery itself.
Savannah NIL 