Dartmouth Players Unionizing: Potential Domino Effect for College Sports, Expert Predicts

Last Updated on March 18, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

The Dartmouth men’s basketball team recently made headlines by voting to unionize, a move that has raised questions about the future of college athletics and the rights of student-athletes.

In a historic vote, the team voted 13-2 to join Service Employees International Union Local 560 in an election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. This decision follows the trend of college athletes seeking to profit off their name, image, and likeness, a move that has been gaining momentum in recent years.

While college athletes are increasingly looking for ways to be compensated for their contributions to their schools, schools are not currently required by law to pay their athletes. This has led to some pushback from Dartmouth against the unionization vote.

Michael Schreck, an expert in labor relations, believes that this move by the Dartmouth men’s basketball team could be a significant step for college athletes and may have a domino effect on other teams across the country. He also points out the unique situation of Ivy League athletes, who often receive academic scholarships instead of sports scholarships.

Despite the team’s decision to unionize, Dartmouth has filed an appeal with the NLRB in an effort to overturn the decision allowing the vote. The school argues that classifying students as employees due to playing basketball is unprecedented and inaccurate.

Overall, this vote by the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has sparked a larger conversation about the rights of student-athletes and the future of college athletics. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact other teams and whether it will lead to changes in how college athletes are compensated.