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My African American pop culture class had just wrapped up for the semester. After weeks of watching films, student discussion filled the room.

We reflected on “Coach Carter” and “Love & Basketball,” two films depicting the lives of student-athletes. The conversation shifted to the realities of student-athlete life and the pressures athletes endure.

One issue students repeatedly raised was athlete compensation.

While most people in the room supported compensating athletes, many expressed concern over where universities invest their resources. Student-athletes have become the visible symbol of a broader conversation surrounding Syracuse University’s budgeting priorities.

One of the biggest misconceptions about athlete compensation is the assumption that tuition dollars directly pay athletes. The university’s NIL ecosystem relies on third-party fundraising efforts, according to Syracuse Athletics’ announcement of its partnership with One Orange Alliance.

These assumptions shape how frustration is directed. When students don’t understand where resources originate, compensation can appear far simpler than it actually is.

According to SU’s Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Financial Report, the university operated on an annual budget of nearly $2 billion, reflecting investments across academics, research, student support, facilities and other institutional operations.

Still, athletics may not attract criticism solely because of misunderstandings about funding, but rather because it remains one of SU’s most visible investments.

Former SU volleyball player Sydnie Waller, who was involved in athletic leadership organizations like the........

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