Let me start off by saying I love college sports. I love the tradition, the pride and the camaraderie that those teams represent. I was born and raised on UK basketball, like most in this state. College, as it does for most people, has shoved me into the reality of adulthood, introducing me to money and politics on a personal level. And $30 million is where I have to draw the line.

First of all, who really needs $30 million? No one. No one needs a house that big, or that many cars. Especially not for advising 20 kids about the best way to put a bright orange ball into a bright orange hoop. Sorry to burst your bubble, but basketball doesn’t actually add that much to society. Go ahead, throw up your red commy flags, but I’m not asking the government to divvy up the money, I’m asking all the coaches to be a little less selfish.

In case you hadn’t noticed, the economy is in the crapper. People can’t find jobs, are losing homes, and even before the plummet, the level of education in the United States was laughable. And yet we offer up $30 million without a second thought. I realize the money John Calipari will receive would not be used for anything other than his salary, but why not?

Now let’s say we cut that salary in half. Calipari still makes plenty of money to do whatever his heart desires and we give the other half to other areas of the university. No, I’m not talking about a new bookstore, I’m talking about scholarship funds, renovated dorms and classrooms and better teachers, that put the university closer to their mission of being an educational institution.

So, Wildcats, take a step back and think about what you’re condoning by supporting this hire. You may be up to your neck in loans, your family might be struggling to keep their heads above water and have enough to eat and nothing Calipari will do (not even winning a national championship) will fix that. So think about what it is about UK basketball that makes it worth a base of $30 million. Does it really make your life that much better? Is John Calipari going to work that much harder than you so you can legitimately say he deserves every dime of that money?

I didn’t think so.

Stacie Schultz

psychology and Spanish sophomore