I think they should not be paid because it’s not the job would bring the value to social like professional athletes. however, we can support them with different way like decrease or sponsor intuition free, support fully nutrition meal and bring gift or financial support for who bring the awards or achievements for the college.

Deeper inside, I still concerned about if we pay for the athletes, who will be paid. all student in college who studies sporty or just some student have awards or achievement in prior tournament or be preferred by lecture, another aspect with your concern about fairness. And if athlete student is paid like a job, it’ll impact to their objectives during school time like pursue to achieve more awards rather than focus on practice to strengthen themself and strengthen their ability to be a professional athletes in future Some students also can choose sporty by sponsor or salary instead of another party who not be sponsored but more suitable with them.

The college committee need to maintain a governance system or control schemes strong enough to make sponsor to be fair with all sporty teams in their colleges because if they don’t have, not just unfair payment, but it also another non-financial support like the meal or tuition fee as I mentioned before can’t touch to vulnerable group or student.