Should college athletes be paid salaries by their schools?

Here is a winning final round response to close out the debate: Addressing the scale of non-revenue sports doesn’t invalidate the fundamental need for labor protections—it highlights the necessity of a structured compensation model. Just as major corporations employ both high-earning executives and lower-paid entry-level staff, collegiate athletics can implement tiered revenue-sharing models, baseline stipends, and fair healthcare coverage without bankrupting smaller programs. Furthermore, guaranteeing fair compensation and worker protections in high-revenue sports actually secures the overall funding ecosystem for all university athletic programs. Granting athletes basic employment rights ensures that institutional wealth is shared fairly with the very individuals creating it, making college sports both equitable and sustainable.