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GRADUATION
Continued Irom Page 1
morn confident in ihn number?, idler five or 11) years when we t an
see any trends that might be developing.''
It doesn't tell you anylhing. really," said Dan Williams. Univer
sity vice president for administration "I don't think figures that
old are very applicable today I think we have really lawn concen
trating on giving athletes as good a chance as possible to graduate
since 198fi or 87
“We've increased our entrance requirements substantiallv since
then, and we no longer accept Proposition 48 students, so I just
don't think older numbers mean that much
Proposition 48 athletes were required to give up u year of eligi
bility because of low college entrance scores and/or CPAs
The issue is whether the University is offering students a
chance to graduate." Williams said "Are athletes getting the sup
port they need7 That's the kind of thing people need to be looking
at
fieri the entire school It s not representative in terms of age and
circumstance Most (student-athletes) arc from 18 to 21 or 22 years
old They're more typical of about a 25 percent to 30 percent por
tion of our student body There are a whole lot of situations with
other students not applicable in student athletes.
"I (hink there's room for improvement, hut we re doing a great
job."
noth Williams and Byrne downplayed ihe comparison of gradua
tion rates between schools
"My goal has been to try to graduate a number close to that of the
entire student body," Byrne said "I can't tie concerned as long as
wo maintain a level close to that of the general student popula
tion."
Byrne said comparing Oregon's rales with 200 other NCAA
schools is unfair and misleading
"There are so many factors to tie considered." he said "There
are some Institutions that don’t expect us much of their youngsters
as wo do here at the University of Oregon."
Byrne also said that because of the relatively small numbers in
volvod 14f. .student-athletes were included in the 42 percent sta
tistic even slight yearly variations can drastically change the
graduation rates.
An emphasis on comparisons between student-athletes and the
rest of the students at their own university is also a focus of the
Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which
states in its preamble that it is "committed to a firm institutional
control of athletics ... and to the accountability of the athletics do
purtment to the values and goals benefiting higher education."
One of the Knight Commission's statement of principles is that
"student-athletes, in each sport, will be graduated in at least the
same proportion as non-athletes who have spent comparable time
us full-time students."
Byrne said ho believe". Ihe NCAA will begin paying more alien
lion to Ihe numbers within individual schools rather than concen
trating on competition among all its member universities
A more accurate assessment of tiow well Oregon's student-ath
letes are doing in school mighi bo the percentage of those who
graduate or finish the six-year study period in good academic
standing.
Fifty-nine percent of Oregon's student-athletes who entered
school between 1983-85 either graduated by the end of summer
term 1990. left or returned in good academic standing, according to
the NCAA report
In addition. 05 percent of those who used all their athletic eligi
bility at the University earned degrees.
Student-athletes who graduated look just under five years on av
erage to earn their degrees, about the same amount of time as the
general student population
highly-five percent of student-athlete graduates earned degrees
within five years, compared to 83 percent of the entire sludont
body and a 50-percent overall NCAA average.
Oregon's women student-athletes had consistently higher gradu
ation rates than the men. Fifty-six percent of women graduated
within six years compared lo 34 percent of inen.
Although Williams believes the overall student-athlete gradua
tion rate will rise over the next several years, he doesn't feel the
current numbers are indicative of any serious problems He does,
however, realise that much of the general public looks at the gradu
ation percentages and nothing else
"I can't help it if that's what people are thinking.” he said. “We
won't make any changes based on the erroneous assumptions of
the general public.
"People arc looking at this from the wrong side of the glass. Not
to say graduation isn't important, but if we are doing the other
things that will take care of itself "
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Si
Academics
can mix with
athletics
By Jayson Jacoby
Emerald Spans Reporter
Richard Lucas was known
for his hard-working playing
stylo as Oregon's starting
con tor from 1989-9t.
Dut Lucas' hard-nosod ap
proach extends beyond the
basketbiili court. The former
Utiek star graduated from the
University journalism school
last fall after four years and
two terms at the University.
As an example of what
school officials want stu
dent-athletes to be — consci
entious students in addition
to their athletic performance
— Lucas has some interest
ing insights into what it
lakes to graduate while rep
resenting the University
hoih on und off the court.
"Just like in anything you
do in life, there are people
who want to work for
things." Lucas said. "1 was
one who wanted to work for
a degree."
Although Oregon's most
recent graduation rates are
below the national average,
Lucus said the University's
academic support system
was more than adequate.
"That's one of the reasons
I chose Oregon over some
other places,” ho said. "For
me it's been great."
Lucas said ho doesn’t be
lieve graduate-rate compari
sons between schools accu
rately represent how well in
dividual universities sup
port their student-athletes.
"Schools hove different
tones." he said. "Some may
be harder for student-ath
letes I think you should
look ul each individual
school, and also at how tho
regular students at tho
school are doing compared
to the athletes "
Lucas downplayed the
idea that student-athletes
face tougher academic odds
because of the time con
straints involved with athlet
ics.
Out ho also believes ath
letes have to work just as
hard us other students to be
successful, despite tho popu
lar notion that student-uth
letes are "carried along” by
relaxed academic standards
and a monolithic support
staff.
"Anyone can have a study
table," he said. "Yes (ath
letes^ do get a few things
Turn to LUCAS, Page 12
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