Discussing student athletes has always been a controversial conversation. I’ve personally always found it amazing that places of education give scholarships to those who are athletically inclined. That’s not to say that these individuals aren’t extremely talented or shouldn’t be rewarded for their remarkable accomplishments, but the link between college athletics and higher education is a blurry one. Unfortunately, this link has serious, and sometimes dangerous, consequences for a university and its students.

Athletics at universities began decades ago as a form of recreation and competition between schools, a definition that still applies to the athletics at most American universities. However, at select institutions, it seems as if there is a new brand of student athlete: the celebrity student athlete. These celebrity athletes constitute an entirely separate population of the student body. I consider this type of student to be one who is a) in college simply to play a sport and b) integral to the success of his team. To be clear, this is a minority of student athletes that exist predominantly at Division I institutions and typically play football or basketball. Specifically, this is not a reflection of Washington University athletes.

None of this is a problem yet. If someone is in college simply to advance their career as an athlete, I respect that. That’s the way the system works, and I may not agree with it, but that’s how one reaches success in the athletic realm.

The problem arises from the fact that at many Division I schools, sports are profitable for the university: both by enhancing the reputation and by funding frivolous, unnecessary projects. Sports begin to define the school’s worth, literally and figuratively.

This gives immense power to the young men who enable the athletic department to be so successful and profitable. In the documentary “The Hunting Ground,” a young woman tells her experience after reporting a rape that was allegedly committed by Jameis Winston. I say allegedly because he was never found guilty despite extensive evidence including a rape kit. Why was this? When Erica Kinsman spoke out, she immediately faced backlash not only from her peers, but by police officers as well. The school administration wouldn’t confront Winston until years later. Clearly, her alleged rape was an inconvenience for the school, and because it was treated as such, Jameis Winston is still a successful athlete.

Situations like this, though not nearly as extreme, are common. Athletes that are integral to the success of the program are consistently forgiven and given the easy road. John Oliver, in his argument supporting the payment of student athletes, revealed that many athletes are encouraged to enroll in specific classes to ensure that their GPA stays above a certain minimum. These celebrity student athletes hold an elevated position that is not granted to other students and with that elevated position comes power.

Let’s look at Mizzou. Protests against ex-President Tim Wolfe have been occurring since September (though beliefs as such had been held before, September was truly the tipping point and the beginning of the turmoil we are seeing now). However, two months later, in November, the football team took a stand with protesters and demanded the resignation of Tim Wolfe. He resigned almost immediately.

Although the Mizzou football team was using their power for an extraordinary cause, one fact remains undeniably clear: It was the actions of the football team, not the protesters, which led to the resignation of Tim Wolfe. This directs me to only one conclusion: The Mizzou football players are more important, because of their power, than any other student to the University of Missouri administration.

The power of celebrity student athletes is a serious problem. Although Mizzou students capitalized on their power and used it to accelerate an important protest, most often this is not the case. Most often, this power has negative consequences. According to “The Hunting Ground,” athletes, who make up 4 percent of students, commit 19 percent of sexual assault. One can only imagine how else that power is wielded.

I realize I’m only tackling a small part of a larger story; that is, the glorification of sports in American culture. That is why these celebrity student athletes have power in the first place. This culture is engrained in our society, which is why I believe this problem is only going to get worse and worse. I’m asking that schools take the ethical step and start holding celebrity student athletes to the same standards of other students. It may not be cost effective, it may not be good PR for the institution but it’s fair and right. I ask these schools to take a sacrifice for the greater common good.