Diddy

[petitesuite]

I think anyone who can pay their own way through college in the US is doing a pretty good job and I'm not about to dis his son for doing that. I have issues with how college football and basketball work here, but he's essentially doing a job for the school and I don't take issue with him getting money for that. While I'm on my soapbox, I would guess quite a few merit scholarships go to people whose parents can afford to pay a larger part of their tuition.

[chonies]

May 31, 2012 11:00:57 GMT -4 petitesuite said:

I think anyone who can pay their own way through college in the US is doing a pretty good job and I'm not about to dis his son for doing that. I have issues with how college football and basketball work here, but he's essentially doing a job for the school and I don't take issue with him getting money for that. While I'm on my soapbox, I would guess quite a few merit scholarships go to people whose parents can afford to pay a larger part of their tuition.

Totally agree on all counts. Some of the principles of merit have a strong correlation with the investment in K-12 education, which correlates to wealth, which...well, it's no accident that many of the top public school districts (many of which include magnet schools) are in the wealthiest areas, nationally. Of course, that doesn't mean the merit scholars are from wealthy families, but they often have the networks and associations with wealth and cultural capital.

I have no qualms with the idea of merit scholarship but as far as social engineering goes, I often wonder if a random lottery would be better.

I also feel like I'm preaching to the choir. So, final thoughts: good for Justin, but as everyone knows, getting into college is only part of the story.

[GossipGirl]

Meanwhile, the children of oil barons and media moguls and CEOs and God knows who else get scholarships all the time and nobody gives a shit. Makes me wonder what this is really about...

Exactly.

[MandySpark]

It's a merit-based scholarship which means, presumably, all students who met the criteria received scholarships. It's not a needs-based scholarship so even if he denied it, it's not going to go to another student who can "use it more."

The kid earned it and I'm sure the school will receive way more than that in donations over the years if he enrolls and graduates from there that will benefit future students.

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 12:12:18 GMT -4 GossipGirl said:

Meanwhile, the children of oil barons and media moguls and CEOs and God knows who else get scholarships all the time and nobody gives a shit. Makes me wonder what this is really about...

Exactly.

I wonder when this does happen, how much money gets donated to the school by the parents who are oil barons and media moguls and CEOs.

I can't be mad about his son getting the scholarship, does he really need it? No, but the scholarship is merit-based and if he earned it, good for him and good on his family.

I don't think its fair to criticize him for working hard and then reaping the benefits of that work.

[Auroranorth]

May 31, 2012 12:46:32 GMT -4 MandySpark said:

It's a merit-based scholarship which means, presumably, all students who met the criteria received scholarships. It's not a needs-based scholarship so even if he denied it, it's not going to go to another student who can "use it more."

The kid earned it and I'm sure the school will receive way more than that in donations over the years if he enrolls and graduates from there that will benefit future students.

This. He worked hard, succeeded and is being rewarded for that.

[Wol]

Plenty of merit deserving students are denied scholarships. Plenty.

The decision to award Justin Combs a full scholarship is bloody stupid because the UC needs money, and here's a kid who can afford to pay it and they're giving him a free ride. The UC system is broke and horribly mismanaged. Senior level administrators keep giving themselves raises and there have been no cost of living increases for many employees for YEARS because the state budget is in the toilet. Employees attempting to unionize are manipulated and bullied. Retirement contributions and benefits copays have gone up yearly while salaries have flatlined at embarrassing levels. Some campuses (like UCLA) charge employees for the privilege of parking on campus - as much as $80 a month taken out of their paychecks. They are desperate to find ways to generate revenue and accepting out of state students is one of them, which is why Justin Combs' scholarship is so high. There is a Senate bill being debated that would limit to 10% the percentage of out of state students each campus can yearly admit because this revenue generating scheme is edging state students out of the very schools their families pay taxes to support, which the UC is fighting because out of state students are a good source of revenue. Which is why this scholarship decision is stupid. There are much better uses for that 50 grand. Rant over.

[Neurochick]

May 31, 2012 12:12:18 GMT -4 GossipGirl said:

Meanwhile, the children of oil barons and media moguls and CEOs and God knows who else get scholarships all the time and nobody gives a shit. Makes me wonder what this is really about...

Exactly.

That's what I was thinking. How many rich CEO's kids gets all kinds of aid, but the Rethuglicans always talk about OTHER people on welfare.

[chonies]

May 31, 2012 15:08:10 GMT -4 Wol said:

Plenty of merit deserving students are denied scholarships. Plenty.

The decision to award Justin Combs a full scholarship is bloody stupid because the UC needs money, and here's a kid who can afford to pay it and they're giving him a free ride. The UC system is broke and horribly mismanaged. Senior level administrators keep giving themselves raises and there have been no cost of living increases for many employees for YEARS because the state budget is in the toilet. Employees attempting to unionize are manipulated and bullied. Retirement contributions and benefits copays have gone up yearly while salaries have flatlined at embarrassing levels. Some campuses (like UCLA) charge employees for the privilege of parking on campus - as much as $80 a month taken out of their paychecks. They are desperate to find ways to generate revenue and accepting out of state students is one of them, which is why Justin Combs' scholarship is so high. There is a Senate bill being debated that would limit to 10% the percentage of out of state students each campus can yearly admit because this revenue generating scheme is edging state students out of the very schools their families pay taxes to support, which the UC is fighting because out of state students are a good source of revenue. Which is why this scholarship decision is stupid. There are much better uses for that 50 grand. Rant over.

Out of curiosity, are you arguing against Justin Combs' scholarship in particular, or NCAA football generally, or something else?

[tanyak]

May 31, 2012 11:00:57 GMT -4 petitesuite said:

While I'm on my soapbox, I would guess quite a few merit scholarships go to people whose parents can afford to pay a larger part of their tuition.

Exactly. I was watching ESPN's "Mike and Mike" this morning, and they went through a whole list starting with Andrew Luck. His dad is the AD at West Virginia. He didn't need a scholarship. Mike Goelic, one of the hosts, has two boys at Notre Dame for football and a daughter being recruited for swimming. All scholarships.

Even if Justin had turned it down, the football coaches would have moved on to the next recruit on their list with no thoughts of whether the player really "needs it." He worked hard and it paid off. Good for him.