Former Northwestern University quarterback Kain Colter is the force behind a National Labor Relations Board hearing to determine whether Northwestern athletes can form a union. Colter said he spent 40 to 50 hours per week on football during the season and decided to forgo a pre-med program because of the amount of time football required.
The NLRB’s ruling will hinge on whether college athletes qualify as employees and whether scholarships should be considered pay, according to an Associated Press article. Kain’s attorney argues that college players are employees, but an attorney representing Northwestern believes otherwise, and says academics will always eclipse athletics at the school.
