UO runner Ben DeJarnette on student animosity toward student-athletes

10/23/2011: An Op-Ed in the RG. DeJarnette is a journalism major, a scholarship athlete on the track team, and a member of UO’s Intercollegiate Athletics Committee. He argues there are some legitimate concerns, but also some intransigent stereotypes which he attempts to clear up:

I recently witnessed two classmates roaring with laughter at their newest nickname for the John E. Jaqua Center, “The Center for Students Who Can’t Read Good.” Socioeconomic prejudice aside, the animosity and contempt behind “jokes” like these are reason for concern.

Although some students and faculty at the university have legitimate questions and concerns regarding athletic department policy, the most intransigent stereotypes are rooted in years of misinformation and myths that have now taken on a life of their own.

The group that pays the price for these misconceptions is student-athletes.

 He also argues the funding problems for regular UO students are best addressed with President Lariviere’s New Partnership, not by going after the athletic department budget.

And FWIW, here’s a piece about another UO runner, which I came across while googling “outspoken Oregon athlete”