Scholar athletes

A program at Southeast Missouri State University is working to bridge a gap by showing that athletics and academics are partners in the college experience.

The program recognizes faculty and staff who have mentored student athletes while emphasizing that athletes are students first.

School officials think the program might be the only one of its kind in the nation. The university should be commended for its efforts at balancing the worlds of athletics and academics on campus. It's not an easy task but one that deserves some attention.

Some university athletic departments are more concerned with a winning record than with a high graduation rate. But Southeast wants its student athletes to succeed in both realms -- with help and encouragement along the way.

The program, Success in Scholarship/Success in Sports, was unveiled at the weekend's home football game. A business professor who served as a mentor was the first to be chosen as an honoree. More professors will be honored at coming football games and during the basketball season. Each faculty or staff member is nominated by a student.

Most student athletes won't ever play professional sports, but they will need an education. That's were the emphasis on academics works. The program also helps break stereotypes that athletes do poorly academically.