Post Reports

College athletes are unionizing. Could this change sports?

Mar 12, 2024

Dartmouth men's basketball team unionizes, shifting college sports dynamics. NCAA allows student-athletes to earn from name and likeness. Biden appoints labor board president supportive of unionizing. NCAA prepared for legal battle against amateurism. Jesse Dougherty breaks down Dartmouth's success and nationwide impact.

25:43

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Jesse Dougherty

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Quick takeaways

College athletes are pushing for better pay and conditions through unionization.

Recent legal cases have challenged NCAA restrictions on athletes profiting from their name, image, and likeness.

Deep dives

The Impact of NCAA Profits on Athletes

The NCAA profits over a billion dollars annually, with a significant portion coming from the immensely popular March Madness basketball tournament. Jesse Daugherty, a business of college sports reporter, highlights that all the revenue generated ultimately relies on the athletes, who are considered the product attracting viewers and enthusiasts. Despite this, these athletes are categorized as amateurs, drawing a distinctive line between student and professional athletes, a notion progressively challenged by student athletes in recent times.

Introduction

2min

The Unionization of College Athletes

14min

Exploring the Potential National Expansion of Athletes' Unionizing Efforts

2min

Dartmouth and NCAA's Response to Athlete Unionization

7min

Investigation of President Biden's Memory and Handling of Classified Documents on Capitol Hill

3min

In a historic move, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has voted to unionize, just ahead of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament. It’s part of a larger movement of student-athletes seeking better pay and conditions, possibly transforming college sports.

The college sports landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade, particularly when it comes to the rights and privileges of student-athletes. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided unanimously in NCAA v. Alston that students were allowed to earn money from their name, image and likeness. And shortly after President Biden was inaugurated, he appointed a national labor board president who has been supportive of student-athletes unionizing.

Dartmouth has pushed back against the unionization effort, calling it “inappropriate” and filing an appeal. For its part, the NCAA appears prepared for a long court fight to preserve amateurism in college athletics.

Jesse Dougherty reports on the business of college sports. He joins “Post Reports” to break down why Dartmouth’s unionization effort succeeded, and what it could mean for college teams nationwide.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell. Thanks also to Greg Schimmel.

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Post Reports

College athletes are unionizing. Could this change sports?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Impact of NCAA Profits on Athletes

Evolution of Student Athlete Rights

Pivotal Unionization Efforts in College Sports

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts