Dodger - please re-read my earlier post. The only statement I made regarding an ND degree is that I have disdain for anyone, especially 'subway alums', only looking at the football side of an issue/policy rather than the overall impact for the Notre Dame community, to which includes those who never attended also belong. In no way, shape or form was I implying that only attendees of the university should be allowed to be or considered fans.
FI9 - First, did I imply that a transfer student is a freshman? Or did I state that the university has had a policy of allowing some students in during January, thus simply extended this policy to some freshman?
Second, your implication is still that only football players are allowed January admission. Without the statistics and existing policy available to me, I can not comment on potential enrollees not engaged in athletics at the university. However, based on public statements by Coach Weis and admissions it is clear that individuals other than football players are eligible for this enrollment. If the university is limiting January enrollment to athletes only, I do not take issue with this, as the demands placed on student-athletes are very different to those experienced by others. Is it special treatment that Notre Dame athletes are asked to fulfill the same academic requirements as non-athletes while also meeting the demands of coaches? One must look at equity, as opposed to equality. Does January enrollment create an inequitable situation? I fail to see that it does.
Also consider that Notre Dame was one of the first universities to introduce a Freshman Year of Studies program (since changed to First Year of Studies). As such, students experience campus life and a variety of subjects before declaring a major. Since many athletes are required by their athletic programs to attend summer session, it is not out of the question to foresee a young man or woman entering the university as an athlete with prior college credit (AP, IB, etc.), finishing the spring semester then summer session and having the credits to fulfill the First Year Studies program. Since summer session is not required of non-athletic scholarship students, it would be much more difficult for the university to ensure that these students have fulfilled the First Year requirements prior to the next fall semester.
