Myth: Can athletes register for classes first?

FAU students are busy planning which classes they intend to take in the summer and fall semesters. While most students are franticly hoping that their targeted classes will be available when it’s their turn to choose, there are select students who need not worry.

Every semester, FAU’s student athletes are eligible to select their classes on the first day of registration, a privilege shared only by graduate students. And while these athletes feel that they should have the privilege of working around their hectic schedules, many non-athlete students do not agree.

Although it may be understood that National College Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes have jam-packed schedules — balancing practices, games and travel with classes and homework — not all FAU students agree athletes should get first dibs at registering for classes.

“I think that it’s a little unfair just because they are athletes,” says sophomore Daniel Aharon, an undecided major. “I mean, seniority I understand, but athletes, not really.”
Student athletes believe they should be able to select their classes prior to the rest of the students due to their busy schedules and team commitments.

“I think it is perfectly fair, truthfully. It’s not our fault that we play for the school and we have to travel,” says David Tuesta, a midfielder for FAU’s soccer team. “I mean, they can work their job around their class. We can’t work our soccer game around our class because it is not us choosing them.

Other athletes say they should be allowed to register for classes first because their teams’ success can affect the university’s funding.

“We are not going to have enough time to practice as a unit,” says Brandon Zeeb, a wide receiver on FAU’s football team. “We bring in a lot of revenue to the school. So us being successful is important to the school’s finances.”

The Office of the Registrar couldn’t pinpoint the date the rule started, but FAU’s registrar, Harry Demik, recalls the rule being in place prior to his arrival at the university 11 years ago. 

“It’s pretty standard in colleges and universities across the nation,” says Demik. “Athletes do get to register early just because of this difficulty with their schedule.”

While Demik may feel that the priority that student athletes receive is justified, some non-athlete students do not.

Sophomore Chris Saadat says he understands the nature of student athletes’ schedules but feels the system should be altered.

“If it was up to me, ... honestly, no matter how brutal it sounds, I just think the priority that they have should be taken away from them,” says Saadat, a multimedia journalism major. “They should be just like everybody else.” 

Regardless of the ongoing debate, class registration remains the same. Student athletes began to select their classes on April 1, followed by everyone else in the subsequent days.

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