In the Oct. 23 issue of The Hawk Newspaper, pages 1, 2, and 6 through 16 had a positive and optimistic view on the same topic: basketball at SJU. While I believe that there is a place for basketball at this university, we should be having a more nuanced discussion on the pros and cons of the current systems we have in place, especially when highlighting gender. 

When looking at publicly posted salaries from last year, one may ask why Billy Lange (Head MBB Coach) made $842,555 and Cynthia Griffin (Head WBB Coach) $390,485 in 2022. Could the disparity in pay be better allocated to a different program at SJU?

Why are we still partnered with Nike, a company known for its human rights abuses, especially towards women during the pandemic? Our Just Employment Policy states we must “strive to consider the labor conditions of products purchased for the university. If competitively priced certifications for products are available (such as, but not limited to, fair trade or Certified B-Corporations) the university should purchase these goods.” Is this what we are really doing?

While I congratulate The Hawk Newspaper on its effort to highlight gender equality concerning basketball on our campus, there is a much more nuanced discussion to be had.