I guess it's time for me to get involved in this discussion. Luiz F.
Valente writes in response to Dave Bender's comments:
 
>I believe that your accusations concerning financial aid practices
>at Ivy League Universities are unfounded. I challenge you to name
>your sources precisely or to issue an apology.
>Luiz F. Valente
>Faculty Advisor to the
>Brown University Men's Hockey Team
 
        Are we being asked to believe that the amount of the financial aid award
given to student athletes is SOLELY based on the financial ability of the
parents to pay??? What I mean by that is that if two students file for
financial aid and the parents have equal financial portfolios and student (A),
who is not an athlete, gets rejected aid money, with the exception the of
Stafford loans etc. that they consider part of a financial aid package, and
student (B) is an athlete that the school is recruiting, would also get the
same as student (A). IMHO think not!!
        I know that is not something that one would admit in a public forum
such as this. And to ask for sources or an apology infers a holier than thou
attitude that Brown University certainly would not do this.... I just find it
hard to believe.
        Division 1 College sports is a business. These institutions of higher
learning which participate in Division 1 Athletic Programs benefit, and for
some, quite profitably. So let's cut out all the maneuvering around number of
scholarships/financial aid available and pay for the student athlete's
education. The only valid criteria, again IMHO, is to set the number of players
allowed to be carried on any given team roster and if your a rostered player
then your tuition/room&board is covered. All this of course assumes that the
student athlete meets all of the academic requirements....
 
Louis H. Jacques
Hockey Parent