In an article published in February 2003, The State Press reported that a former Sun Devil recruiter, honors student Becky Stoltz, wanted to go in to sports marketing after she received her degree and, in many ways she felt the [Sun Devil Recruiters] program was like an internship.
Well, in actuality, the Sun Devil Recruiters program was not like an internship. In fact, it was, not like a paying job, a class that offers school credit or even an activity that will reward recognition for having performed community service hours.
If the program were offering actual employment or internships, Stoltz would have had to undergo some sort of hiring process in which her credentials would have been examined as part of the selection process. This is not to say that her credentials weren't examined, but they may not have been the credentials that have to do with her outstanding school and work accomplishments.
Various athletic administrators across the country make no bones about the fact that the girls are chosen for another credential, good looks.
Monday, however, football coach Dirk Koetter made the official announcement that the Sun Devil Recruiters were being disbanded. Coach Koetter cited the likelihood that the recruiting programs nationwide would be outlawed in years to come. He added that keeping an eye on just the football team was enough to fill a plate, and keeping on top of the recruiters' activities was an additional and unnecessary worry.
There has been controversy in the past over whether an article containing allegations of underage drinking and sexual relations occurring between some members of the Sun Devil Recruiters and the recruits was accurate. But issues such as these have surfaced in other schools such as Colorado University, where off-campus parties with football players, recruiters and recruits have resulted in two separate rape allegations.
Although ASU's recruiting record, as far as anyone can tell, is one to be proud of, the bottom line is these girls are judged based on their looks and are out jeopardizing their safety for the sake of college football. While this means the girls have really big hearts and are willing to sacrifice for something they feel strongly about, the fact remains that there are many other ways to help improve society without your pretty face in danger.
Now thanks to Koetter, the girls are free to explore other avenues of community and school involvement. Of course they can always continue to volunteer. They can help animals or even the elderly, and the football program will survive without them.
Of course, if the women wanted to take their nobility down a notch, and be a little selfish, they could always look into spending their time in ways that will earn them a paycheck, or at least lead to a fatter one down the road. This is possible through actual internships or jobs. Stoltz may have looked at the recruiting program as an internship, but that doesn't matter much on a résumé.
On behalf of the recruiters, "Thanks, coach."
Nicole Girard is a journalism graduate student. Reach her at nicole.girard@asu.edu.
