Eat, attend class, study, play: together
Statistics show athletes declare biology and physical education majors and veer away from history and English departments
Joy Pavelski
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
Hillsdale College athletes tend to congregate not only around dining tables, but in upper-level classrooms as well. Most biology and marketing management professors see more athletes in their classrooms and offices than do history and English professors.
"I'm a big volleyball fan," said Assistant Professor of Biology Angie Pytel. "[About] half the volleyball players are biology majors."
And it's not just perception: according to information from the Office of the Registrar, 10 of 43 declared biology majors at Hillsdale are also on the school's athletic rosters. Eleven out of the school's 13 declared physical education majors are also athletes. Compare that with athletes who have declared either an English or a history major: one of 70 and three of 44, respectively.
"The most popular athlete majors are probably education, biology, and marketing/accounting," Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere said. "I don't think there's that much to be read into it. We're getting the kids that we know can get into our school academically. Those high-end kids will [tend towards] a challenging major like biology. There are no easy majors at this school."
While Pytel will visit volleyball games to cheer on her Charger students, some professors make coordinating studies and sports a tricky task for their students.
Though it is increasingly rare, professors have lowered student grades for missing class too many times due to sports. When this happens, athletes and coaches either try to work through the conflict of interest with the professor or end up advising other athletes to avoid the professor entirely.
"Freshman year, you learn quickly that you don't choose to volunteer why you miss a class," said junior Katelin Simon, who plays softball. "Generally I don't ask for an extension. I am an athlete, but I am a student first, and you have to portray that to professors. Many of them respect the time we put into sports."
The volleyball team is legend among athletes at Hillsdale for their startling success both on the field and in the classroom. Pytel said football players will joke, in class, that the volleyball players are perfect.
"I'm a big volleyball fan," said Assistant Professor of Biology Angie Pytel. "[About] half the volleyball players are biology majors."
And it's not just perception: according to information from the Office of the Registrar, 10 of 43 declared biology majors at Hillsdale are also on the school's athletic rosters. Eleven out of the school's 13 declared physical education majors are also athletes. Compare that with athletes who have declared either an English or a history major: one of 70 and three of 44, respectively.
"The most popular athlete majors are probably education, biology, and marketing/accounting," Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere said. "I don't think there's that much to be read into it. We're getting the kids that we know can get into our school academically. Those high-end kids will [tend towards] a challenging major like biology. There are no easy majors at this school."
While Pytel will visit volleyball games to cheer on her Charger students, some professors make coordinating studies and sports a tricky task for their students.
Though it is increasingly rare, professors have lowered student grades for missing class too many times due to sports. When this happens, athletes and coaches either try to work through the conflict of interest with the professor or end up advising other athletes to avoid the professor entirely.
"Freshman year, you learn quickly that you don't choose to volunteer why you miss a class," said junior Katelin Simon, who plays softball. "Generally I don't ask for an extension. I am an athlete, but I am a student first, and you have to portray that to professors. Many of them respect the time we put into sports."
The volleyball team is legend among athletes at Hillsdale for their startling success both on the field and in the classroom. Pytel said football players will joke, in class, that the volleyball players are perfect.
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