COMMENTARY

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Subjective judging in sports: Dangerous trend

James Nix

Judging athletics is a difficult thing to do.

Referees get hounded for every call they make and event judges are often questioned about their scoring.

These complaints, however, normally go away as fans realize the referee made a good call.

That’s because most athletics are judged in an objective manner.

However, there are some sports judged in a subjective manner, such as figure skating. This presents many flaws in judging.

One such flaw was brought to light last week in the Olympics. A Canadian pair skated an incredible show—practically flawless—but to the shock of many, walked away with a silver medal.

The Russian pair, which won the gold medal, also skated a good show.
They, however, had several obvious problems in their program.

The judging of this competition came under investigation after the event, when a French judge admitted to the International Skating Union she had given the Canadians a lower score because she was under a certain pressure.

Now the event has two gold medal winners, for the Canadians were awarded the medal and the Russians kept theirs.

It is possible the scandal would not have happened if figure skating were judged on a more objective level.

Figure skating is judged in three areas: technical, performance and a judge ranking.

The judge actually gives skaters a ranking before he or she sees the other skaters. That is not a way to judge athletics.

The subjective manner in which figure skating is judged leaves room for controversies like last week.

When a sport is more objective in scoring, like in alpine skiing or bobsledding, there is no question as to whom the winner is.

I’m not trying to say all other athletics are completely objective. It is clear there is some subjective reasoning behind calls referees make. But for the most part, calls are made based upon the rules set in place for the sport.

Sports like figure skating should stick to scoring methods that judge participants by athletic ability and style points.

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Apathy fuels exploitation of student body

Chris Boyce

Sometimes it feels as though the college student here at Appalachian State, the lifeblood of the university, is exploited.

Of course when a financial crisis pops up and the university is forced to make tough, strategic decisions, it is ultimately the college student that takes the burden.

When there is nothing to do on a cold Saturday night, it is the college student that is exploited at filthy establishments with pricey covers and not much else.

And it is the college student that is paid next to nothing to do the jobs nobody wants.

Exploitation occurs at many levels, and on the campus level sometimes it feels like a powerless situation.

It is my tuition dollars and those of all tuition-paying students that fund many of these decisions which plan the growth of this school.

It is so easy to raise tuition a mere $150, but I wonder how much of this is just a quick fix.

Perhaps more efficient uses of resources or better management could have been researched before this decision.

The money no doubt is going to a good cause, increasing the salaries of lower-paid staff at Appalachian State University.

But what about the salaries of the lowest-paid workers at Appalachian State University—the students? Don’t they deserve a raise?

Apathy plays a large role at the same time.

One hundred and fifty dollars seems like a small amount in the grand scheme of things, so perhaps it was not worth the effort.

And that attitude is essential for these kinds of decisions to be made and put into effect.

There will always be a need for more funding and more money, but I don’t feel the college student should necessarily always pay the burden.

We may be the most exploited demographic in the United States.

We are suckered into high debts from credit card companies more than happy to supply an 18-year old with a plastic “buy-everything” pass.

Our ignorance can be attractive to anyone looking for a way to take our money. Youth pay big money for clothes with the right logo when the fabric just like any other comes from China.

We pay ridiculous car payments to drive vehicles we honestly can’t afford, and all the while interest builds and builds.

Do we know we are exploited? Yes and no. But the more important question is: Do we care?

If we know we are being ripped off but don’t care enough to not allow it to happen, then we deserve our fate.

If we buy into the ideals society spoon-feeds us in exchange for our cash, then it is we who are to blame.

Until we act against our constant exploitation we have no reason to complain.

So next time the university tosses around the notion of another little tuition hike, think about it. It’s your money.