Student-Athlete Objections to NCAA Settlement
In a previous edition of the magazine, we discussed Houston Christian University voicing their objection over the epic $2.7 billion NCAA settlement. A settlement which would redefine college athletics by allowing institutions for the first time in NCAA history to directly compensate student-athletes. It turns out it’s not just Houston Christian that objects; three groups representing former and current student-athletes have raised objections as well.
These objections were acknowledged in a federal court in California where they urged to deny preliminary approving the settlement. One specific group states that the female student-athletes are unfairly compared to their male counterparts; while the other two remaining groups state this settlement would unjustly allow the NCAA to not address other antitrust claims. The NCAA in response affirmed the settlement and stated it as an “important step” in providing benefits to student-athletes. The attorneys for the plaintiffs who negotiated this settlement disregarded the objections as having no merit.
The law firm MoloLamken, who filed their objection on behalf of gender bias, stated that the settlement in large favors male athletes specifically those in football and basketball. Meanwhile, the law firms Berger Montagfue and Freedman Normand Friedland said the settlement would harm their pending antitrust case involving student-athletes from Ivy League Schools who were denied athletics scholarships and compensation. Finally, law firm Korein Tillery, who also have separate pending lawsuits against the NCAA, stated that the deal is actually not high enough from a compensation amount for student-athletes.
Although it is widely believed that this settlement, will be beneficial to student-athletes and transforms college athletics for the better, as we have seen not all student-athlete groups feel this way. It is apparent in the settlement that some sports may be compensated more than others, male student-athletes may receive more of this compensation, not all student-athletes feel the total compensation is a high enough amount and the settlement may for better or worse protect the NCAA from other pending litigation. A preliminary hearing on the settlement is set for September 5th of this year. As always stay tuned into “The Student Athlete” on the details that will emerge.