By: Calvin Gummer

Described in the best manner it could be, Kara Alam describes club sports as beneficial because of its’ ability to extend both mental and personal growth. In comparison to club sports, varsity collegiate sports are more looked at as a competitive and money fueled industry. All over the country, Universities have club sports teams, male and female, that are being underfunded compared to their superior varsity athletics. Due to this, club sports are forced to pay for many expenses without help from the University. Kara Alam describes this unjust money distribution in her article with the Occidental Weekly in a way that shows how much club sports do on their own, “Club sport athletes are typically forced to use their own money to pay for tournament fees, transportation, coaching and injuries.” The Utah State men’s club hockey team makes each player put forth 1.23% of their annual fees to help support the club sports on campus. On the other side of the spectrum, division one varsity athletes are handed numerous benefits that help them ease their way through school and sports. This lack of funding is unfair and obvious in many instances. Alam recaps this well in her article by saying, “Athletes of club sports should be compensated just as much sufficient funding and institutional support from the school as varsity athletes because they put in just as much time, energy, and dedication.” Often times athletic departments are not aware of the effect that even a couple hundred dollars has on club sports teams around the country.