FAU's 3.0 GPA Recognition Halftime Event For Student-Athletes

Last Saturday, Oct. 3, was the 3.0 GPA Recognition Event for all Florida Atlantic student-athletes.

The athletic department plans this event every year. This year, the event was during halftime of the FAU football game against the Wyoming Cowboys.

But I don't think this event is really necessary or enjoyable for ... anyone.

Yes, I do agree that we need to be recognized for playing a sport and making good grades, but I have found some issues over the years with this event:

1. Not many people even attend the football games.


2. During halftime, the stands are almost 100% empty.


3. The people that are in the stands probably can't hear or care about what's going on.


4. Most athletes don't even want to attend the mandatory event.

Actually, even though the event is mandatory, only about half of the athletes showed up on Saturday--out of about 175 student-athletes that received a 3.0 GPA last spring.

Last year, they were actually pulling random athletes to go on the field for the event because barely anyone showed up! Uh, hello!

The athletic department should realize that this isn't high school. No one really pays attention to these kind of events at a university.

Also, after talking with the students that attended the game, they would rather watch a halftime show anyway.

To make everyone happy, the FAU athletic department should just give student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA something like a Nike book bag or food gift cards, and leave halftime entertainment up to the band and cheerleaders.

If they did, I bet more athletes would get a 3.0 GPA this spring, and more people would stay around during halftime.