Far too much spent on college athletics

U.S. College Athletic Departments contend that their billions of dollars in athletic income is a private fund that need not be shared with the academic side of the university since those funds are deemed solely for the benefit of athletics.

Congress is considering denying U.S. tax benefits on athletic department income, investments, depreciation and charitable contributions on the basis that the athletic departments are merely using the academic university as a front for operating a national big business and thereof avoiding the payment of U.S. taxes thereon.

Should U.S. taxpayers subsidize national athletic departments along with million-dollar salaries for athletic directors and coaches instead of allowing the taxes thereon to be used to help pay the exorbitant student tuition?

The Big Ten shows its free tax appreciation by making another moneymaking grab via selling football TV time to cable firms so that the taxpaying public must pay additional funds for cable service to watch public football.

Should taxpayers subsidize the lavish skyboxes or should the taxable income therefrom be better used for aiding the many students who can't afford to attend the university?

Should taxpayers' priorities be to provide far more funds than necessary for athletic departments and their relatively few participants or help the mass of students who desire enabling an improved country?

George E. Brazitis

Champaign