Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Team Votes in Favor of Forming Union, Paving the Way for College Athlete Empowerment
In a historic election that could potentially revolutionize the treatment of college athletes, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team voted in favor of forming a union. The election, ordered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), took place on the college’s campus in Hanover, N.H. This groundbreaking decision has the potential to usher in a new era of college athlete empowerment and challenge the long-standing notion of amateurism in college sports.
The vote, which resulted in a 13-2 majority in favor of forming a union, signifies a significant step forward for college athletes seeking fair treatment and recognition as employees. Dartmouth players Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil expressed their excitement and determination in a joint statement, emphasizing the need to end the age of amateurism and create a less exploitative business model for college sports.
“We call on the Dartmouth Board of Trustees and President Beilock to live the truth of her own words and cultivate ‘brave spaces’ in which ‘changing one’s mind based on new evidence is a good thing,'” Haskins and Myrthil stated. They also pledged to continue advocating for athletes’ rights and well-being by collaborating with other athletes at Dartmouth and throughout the Ivy League to form unions.
However, the university responded to the vote with a statement expressing its disagreement with the classification of student-athletes as employees. Dartmouth argued that academics should remain the primary focus for Ivy League students who are varsity athletes, and that athletic pursuits are an integral part of the educational experience. The university maintained that unionization is not appropriate in this context.
This vote follows a petition filed by 15 Dartmouth men’s basketball players last September, seeking to unionize through the Service Employees International Union Local 560. The university challenged the move, aligning with the belief that college athletes should be considered students rather than salaried workers. However, NLRB regional director Laura Sacks ruled in February that the players are indeed employees, allowing them to proceed with the election to unionize.
This is not the first time college athletes have sought to unionize. In 2014, Northwestern football players received a similar ruling at the regional level, but the decision was overturned at the national level due to jurisdictional limitations. The NLRB only applies to the private sector, and state-run schools are exempt. However, as Dartmouth is a member of the all-private Ivy League, the players may face fewer obstacles at the national level.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for college athletes across the country. It is one of several cases currently in front of the NLRB, including an ongoing labor practice charge in Los Angeles involving USC football and men’s and women’s basketball players. The resolution of this case could determine whether athletes can unionize regardless of their state or the type of school they attend.
The NCAA, while acknowledging the need for change in college sports, maintains that college athletes should not be forced into an employment model. The association is pursuing significant reforms but believes that certain issues require congressional intervention.
The momentum generated by the Dartmouth vote could potentially influence future organizing efforts and legislation surrounding athlete employment. William A. Herbert, the executive director of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions at Hunter College, believes that this is just the beginning. He predicts that other teams may follow suit and seek to unionize, both in the private and public sectors.
The implications of this vote extend beyond Dartmouth and have the potential to reshape the landscape of college athletics. As college sports continue down this path, it is clear that change is inevitable. The empowerment of college athletes and the recognition of their rights as employees are issues that demand attention and action. The Dartmouth men’s basketball team has taken a bold step forward, and the impact of their decision will undoubtedly reverberate throughout the sports world.