Another disappointing story about the NCAA. I don’t know how to fix it, but since the NCAA represents the schools maybe there should be a parallel body to represent the athletes.
Stop doing anything that gives them money for any reason and let them know why. If enough people do it, the problem solves itself one way or the other.
If enough people do it... but they won't. They need to be sold on the idea, en masse, and that doesn't just happen.
Fortunately, we have a tool for collective action: government! Government regulation is how we can push institutions toward aligning with our values. Of course, entrenched interests don't want to be pushed, which is why there's been a massive campaign over the past few decades to scapegoat governments and paint them in a negative light. But they're the right tool for the job.
I think you have it totally wrong. I didn't suggest collective action. That involves organizing, funding, etc.
I just recommended stop giving them your money.
Also, the law already has a process for which this could be solved. That isn't regulation - it's a lawsuit. They damaged her unreasonably for something beyond her control. She should sue.
Regulating how the NCAA acts is not what the government should be involved in. Getting the government to regulate the NCAA is 1000x harder than just suing, and that's 1000x harder than just stop patronizing those organizations yourself. When you aren't emotionally tied into the NCAA, or when you're patronizing an alternative, NCAA fiascos don't both you.
The law doesn't necessarily have a process for this because you can't simply maintain a lawsuit whenever you feel you've been wronged. You have to make a claim for which there is a legal framework established by... the government! Do you have any reason to believe this former student would have a legally established right that the NCAA violated by following its policies?
And besides, your own comment recognized that this is a bigger problem than this one individual case!