Varsity_JJ athletics_NNS :_: Credit_NN or_CC no_UH ?_. It_PRP 's_VBZ a_DT matter_NN of_IN balance_NN 
Vassar_NNP 's_POS varsity_JJ athletes_NNS may_MD soon_RB receive_VB academic_JJ credit_NN for_IN participating_VBG in_IN their_PRP$ sports_NNS during_IN the_DT school_NN year_NN ._. 
This_DT proposal_NN has_VBZ been_VBN in_IN the_DT works_NNS for_IN nearly_RB two_CD years_NNS ,_, and_CC at_IN long_JJ last_NN ,_, folks_NNS are_VBP voting_VBG to_TO approve_VB it_PRP ._. 
Or_CC to_TO not_RB approve_VB it_PRP ,_, but_CC the_DT former_JJ seems_VBZ more_RBR likely_JJ ._. 

As_IN a_DT member_NN of_IN the_DT Student_NNP Athlete_NNP Advisory_NNP Committee_NNP and_CC as_IN a_DT long_JJ -_: time_NN varsity_JJ athlete_NN ,_, you_PRP might_MD say_VB I_PRP have_VB particular_JJ stake_NN in_IN the_DT proposal_NN ._. 
After_IN all_DT ,_, I_PRP could_MD get_VB half_NN a_DT unit_NN a_DT semester_NN for_IN up_IN to_IN four_CD semesters_NNS --_: a_DT typical_JJ class_NN is_VBZ worth_JJ one_CD unit_NN ,_, and_CC a_DT typical_JJ physical_JJ education_NN course_NN of_IN any_DT level_NN is_VBZ worth_JJ half_PDT a_DT unit_NN ,_, with_IN a_DT maximum_NN of_IN two_CD physical_JJ education_NN units_NNS counting_VBG toward_IN graduation_NN requirements_NNS ._. 
It_PRP seems_VBZ justified_JJ :_: Students_NNS can_MD receive_VB credit_NN for_IN participating_VBG in_IN other_JJ extracurricular_JJ ,_, faculty-supervised_JJ activities_NNS ,_, such_JJ as_IN the_DT orchestra_NN ,_, the_DT choir_NN ,_, and_CC the_DT repertory_NN dance_NN theatre_FW ,_, so_RB why_WRB not_RB varsity_JJ athletics_NNS ?_. 

My_PRP$ friend_NN over_IN at_IN Carolyn_NNP Blogs_NNP agrees_VBZ :_: from_IN the_DT above_JJ standpoint_NN ,_, sure_UH ,_, it_PRP seems_VBZ fair_JJ to_TO give_VB credit_NN to_IN students_NNS ._. 
If_IN you_PRP get_VBP credit_NN for_IN introductory_JJ P.E._NNP classes_NNS ,_, you_PRP should_MD get_VB credit_NN for_IN varsity_JJ athletics_NNS ._. 
But_CC our_PRP$ school_NN newspaper_NN presents_VBZ other_JJ arguments_NNS in_IN favor_NN ,_, which_WDT Carolyn_NNP thinks_VBZ are_VBP highly_RB unjustified_JJ :_: 

On_IN top_NN of_IN everything_NN ,_, we_PRP must_MD remember_VB that_IN varsity_JJ athletics_NNS present_VBP a_DT considerable_JJ time_NN commitment_NN ._. 
It_PRP is_VBZ rare_JJ to_TO find_VB another_DT activity_NN on_IN campus_NN —_: academic_JJ or_CC extracurricular_JJ —_: that_WDT includes_VBZ a_DT comparable_JJ daily_JJ rigor_NN and_CC frequent_JJ overnight_JJ obligation_NN ._. 
Varsity_JJ athletes_NNS regularly_RB travel_VBP throughout_IN the_DT northeastern_JJ to_TO participate_VB in_IN meets_NNS ,_, games_NNS and_CC tournaments_NNS ,_, often_RB gone_VBN from_IN campus_NN for_IN an_DT entire_JJ weekend_NN at_IN a_DT time_NN ._. 

And_CC you_PRP know_VBP what_WP ?_. 
Although_IN it_PRP 's_VBZ certainly_RB frustrating_JJ to_TO travel_VB to_IN Boston_NNP for_IN an_DT all-day_JJ competition_NN on_IN the_DT same_JJ weekend_NN as_IN a_DT good_JJ friend_NN 's_POS birthday_NN party_NN ,_, a_DT fascinating_JJ -_: sounding_VBG lecture_NN ,_, a_DT dance_NN party_NN ,_, and_CC seventeen_CD other_JJ campus_NN events_NNS no_DT one_PRP in_IN their_PRP$ right_JJ mind_NN would_MD ever_RB want_VB to_TO miss_VB ,_, I_PRP agree_VBP with_IN Carolyn_NNP ._. 
The_DT reason_NN I_PRP participate_VBP in_IN my_PRP$ sport_NN is_VBZ because_IN I_PRP enjoy_VBP it_PRP ._. 
If_IN I_PRP cared_VBD more_JJR about_IN other_JJ activities_NNS ,_, I_PRP 'd_MD do_VB those_DT instead_RB ._. 
Simply_RB being_VBG a_DT huge_JJ time_NN commitment_NN is_VBZ not_RB a_DT valid_JJ reason_NN for_IN awarding_VBG credit_NN ._. 
Carolyn_NNP 's_POS supporting_JJ example_NN ,_, that_IN higher_JJR level_NN courses_NNS with_IN more_RBR difficult_JJ and_CC plentiful_JJ homework_NN are_VBP worth_JJ the_DT same_JJ amount_NN of_IN credit_NN as_IN introductory_JJ 100-level_JJ courses_NNS ,_, drives_VBZ this_DT point_NN home_NN ._. 
And_CC she_PRP 's_VBZ backed_VBN up_RP by_IN our_PRP$ school_NN 's_POS system_NN of_IN awarding_VBG units_NNS instead_RB of_IN credit_NN hours_NNS :_: 

This_DT system_NN —_: which_WDT in_IN its_PRP$ most_RBS basic_JJ form_NN allots_VBZ one_CD unit_NN of_IN credit_NN per_IN semester_NN course_NN ,_, regardless_RB of_IN difficulty_NN ,_, hours_NNS in_IN class_NN and_CC subject_JJ matter_NN —_: makes_VBZ Vassar_NNP relatively_RB unique_JJ in_IN its_PRP$ credit_NN system_NN ._. 

According_VBG to_IN Registrar_NNP Dan_NNP Giannini_NNP ,_, “_NN The_DT rationale_NN behind_IN such_JJ a_DT system_NN is_VBZ to_TO try_VB to_TO send_VB the_DT message_NN that_IN all_DT courses_NNS are_VBP equal_JJ in_IN worth_NN and_CC that_IN one_CD should_MD n’t_RB try_NN to_TO distinguish_VB between_IN courses_NNS based_VBN on_IN time_NN spent_VBN in_IN or_CC out_IN of_IN class_NN ._. ”_NN 

The_DT reason_NN time_NN commitment_NN is_VBZ highlighted_VBN is_VBZ because_IN ,_, according_VBG to_IN the_DT authors_NNS of_IN the_DT article_NN ,_, the_DT faculty_NN "_'' must_MD consider_VB what_WP it_PRP can_MD do_VB to_TO mitigate_VB possible_JJ academic_JJ pressures_NNS on_IN these_DT students_NNS ._. "_'' 
Um_UH ._. 
No_UH ,_, I_PRP do_VBP n't_RB think_VB the_DT faculty_NN has_VBZ any_DT obligation_NN whatsoever_RB ._. 
Students_NNS choose_VBP to_TO be_VB varsity_JJ athletes_NNS of_IN their_PRP$ own_JJ accord_NN ._. 
If_IN they_PRP ca_MD n't_RB manage_VB to_TO balance_VB their_PRP$ athletics_NNS and_CC their_PRP$ coursework_NN ,_, then_RB perhaps_RB they_PRP should_MD reconsider_VB participating_VBG in_IN a_DT varsity_JJ sport_NN in_IN the_DT first_JJ place_NN ._. 
Athletes_NNP should_MD n't_RB get_VB special_JJ privileges_NNS simply_RB because_IN they_PRP 're_VBP athletes_NNS ._. 

Personally_RB ,_, I_PRP like_VBP the_DT fact_NN that_IN even_RB though_IN I_PRP dedicate_NN huge_JJ chunks_NNS of_IN time_NN to_IN my_PRP$ sport_NN (_( more_JJR time_NN than_IN I_PRP dedicate_VBP to_IN any_DT single_JJ course_NN ,_, at_IN least_JJS while_IN in_IN -_: season_NN )_) ,_, I_PRP can_MD still_RB keep_VB up_RP with_IN my_PRP$ classmates_NNS who_WP are_VBP taking_VBG comparable_JJ course_NN loads_NNS ,_, minus_CC the_DT sport_NN ._. 
Sacrifices_NNS must_MD be_VB made_VBN ,_, sure_UH :_: Dance_NN party_NN on_IN Friday_NNP night_NN ,_, or_CC overnight_JJ travel_NN to_IN a_DT competition_NN ?_. 

The_DT question_NN is_VBZ ,_, what_WP 's_VBZ more_RBR important_JJ to_IN me_PRP ?_. 

You_PRP learn_VBP stuff_NN ,_, too_RB 

The_DT article_NN continues_VBZ :_: 

While_IN athletes_NNS will_MD continue_VB to_TO be_VB held_VBN to_TO the_DT College_NNP ’s_POS rigorous_JJ academic_JJ standards_NNS ,_, the_DT athletics_NNS credit_VBP could_MD discourage_VB a_DT varsity_JJ athlete_NN from_IN unnecessarily_RB taking_VBG on_RP five_CD academic_JJ credits_NNS while_IN in_IN their_PRP$ athletic_JJ season_NN ._. 

With_IN the_DT proposed_JJ varsity_NN credit_NN ,_, the_DT athlete_NN seeking_VBG to_TO assume_VB five_CD courses_NNS in_IN his_PRP$ or_CC her_PRP$ athletic_JJ season_NN will_MD be_VB checked_VBN with_IN an_DT overload_NN form_NN ,_, thus_RB encouraging_VBG the_DT student_NN to_TO think_VB twice_RB about_IN assuming_VBG such_JJ a_DT large_JJ academic_JJ and_CC extracurricular_JJ load_NN ._. 

I_PRP 'd_MD like_VB to_TO be_VB known_VBN that_IN students_NNS who_WP have_VBP trouble_NN balancing_VBG tough_JJ course_NN loads_NNS and_CC time_NN -_: consuming_VBG extracurriculars_NNS have_VBP always_RB had_VBN the_DT option_NN of_IN taking_VBG a_DT lighter_JJR load_NN or_CC dropping_VBG an_DT extracurricular_JJ ._. 
Adding_VBG the_DT option_NN of_IN a_DT varsity_JJ unit_NN to_IN the_DT list_NN does_VBZ n't_RB make_VB much_JJ of_IN a_DT difference_NN ._. 
Students_NNS who_WP are_VBP n't_RB varsity_JJ athletes_NNS could_MD add_VB an_DT easy_JJ P.E._NNP course_NN instead_RB ._. 
Students_NNS who_WP can_MD balance_VB their_PRP$ work_NN and_CC their_PRP$ sport_NN will_MD continue_VB to_TO do_VB so_RB ._. 
And_CC let_VBP it_PRP be_VB known_VBN ,_, varsity_JJ athletes_NNS do_VBP n't_RB have_VB to_TO take_VB a_DT half_JJ unit_NN for_IN their_PRP$ sport_NN ..._. thus_RB negating_VBG the_DT need_NN for_IN an_DT overload_NN form_NN if_IN taking_VBG five_CD courses_NNS ._. 

Carolyn_NNP says_VBZ ,_, in_IN response_NN to_IN the_DT above_JJ quote_NN ,_, that_IN "_'' participating_VBG in_IN sports_NNS is_VBZ optional_JJ ,_, and_CC should_MD always_RB take_VB second_JJ place_NN to_IN academics_NNS ._. "_'' 
True_JJ ,_, mostly_RB ._. 
Academics_NNS are_VBP officially_RB what_WP college_NN is_VBZ about_IN ._. 
Academics_NNS are_VBP what_WP get_VB graded_VBN ._. 
Students_NNS '_POS GPAs_NNPS will_MD ,_, in_IN part_NN ,_, determine_VB what_WP they_PRP are_VBP able_JJ to_TO do_VB with_IN their_PRP$ lives_NNS ._. 
But_CC academics_NNS are_VBP only_RB one_CD particular_JJ kind_NN of_IN knowledge_NN ._. 
Carolyn_NNP 's_POS statement_NN assumes_VBZ that_IN a_DT student_NN can_MD learn_VB more_RBR important_JJ things_NNS from_IN academics_NNS than_IN from_IN participation_NN on_IN a_DT sports_NNS team_NN ._. 
Personally_RB ,_, though_RB ,_, some_DT of_IN the_DT most_RBS important_JJ things_NNS I_PRP 've_VBP learned_VBN about_IN persistence_NN ,_, goal_NN -_: setting_VBG ,_, success_NN and_CC excellence_NN ,_, effort_NN ,_, teamwork_NN ,_, leadership_NN ._. ..._... these_DT I_PRP 've_VBP learned_VBN from_IN my_PRP$ sport_NN and_CC my_PRP$ coaches_NNS ._. 
It_PRP 's_VBZ a_DT different_JJ kind_NN of_IN knowledge_NN than_IN what_WP one_PRP typically_RB gains_VBZ in_IN an_DT academic_JJ course_NN ,_, yes_UH ._. 
But_CC it_PRP 's_VBZ no_DT less_RBR important_JJ ._. 
And_CC that_DT ,_, I_PRP think_VBP ,_, is_VBZ the_DT best_JJS reason_NN for_IN awarding_VBG credit_NN for_IN varsity_JJ athletics_NNS ._. 

