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Sports also serve to keep alumni connected to the school, and thus increase donations.

You can't justify "student athletes" as having any value to the community other than entertainment, but from a fundraising and marketing perspective they've got some uses.

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I understand where you're coming from, but you have to remember that student athletes are also people, and members of the community. I could walk you through the argument about physical fitness and the value of exercise, but I'll save you the time. Just step down from that absolute up there.

A huge amount of this donation money goes right back to the athletic department though. It's a vicious cycle.

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