No need to subsidize tuition for single mothers or provide welfare for low-income students, says Gov.

Wednesday, July 14, 1999

No need to subsidize tuition for single mothers or provide welfare for low-income students, says Gov. Jesse Ventura.

We need to save those state dollars for more important things.

To stem cheating, our boa-wearing governor wants to give it to college students.

Last Friday, Ventura said some college athletes just aren’t smart and should not be required to attend classes to play college sports.

"My view is, to eliminate this cheating, or the possibility of it, why not let kids go to college and just be athletes while they’re there?" Ventura said. "No classes. Let them simply play."

So, the state would simply allow them to play ball and be housed and pampered at taxpayer expense, while other students scape to get by.

Ventura’s plan would provide free court time for athletes based solely on physical ability. At state expense, these gladiators of the college courts would be provided uniforms and transportation to games.

Meanwhile, students not blessed with athletic ability – or athletes that actually care about their future – will be forced to struggle through classes and pay their way.

Ventura said athletes not going from college to professional sports careers should then be given scholarships after their college competition days. That means another four years of state costs.

It would make more sense to eliminate all athletic scholarships and let students compete for the money based on what college is about – knowledge.

Then the professional leagues could develop and fund minor league systems for college-aged players who do not want to take classes and further their education.

Instead of eliminating cheating by making life easier, maybe we can eliminate cheating by actually punishing the offenders.

In the end, we can only hope Ventura is making yet another failed attempt at humor.