by David Safier
Penn State's coverup of child molestation is, among other things, an example of the primacy of college sports over a university's mission, and in this case, over common decency. Protecting the football program was more important than stopping a known pedophile.
A 1974 Arizona law isn't a direct parallel, but it's another shameful example of the power of college sports to dictate the actions of the university.
In 1974, the Arizona legislature passed ARS 15-1630, which gave UA $5.5 million to renovate the football stadium. Stuck onto that bill was an amendment which stated the University Medical Center cannot perform abortions or teach abortion procedures. The restrictions most likely could not have passed on their own, but coupled with improving UA's sports programs, the amendment sailed through the legislature.
No other state prohibits its public universities from teaching abortion procedures. To this day, the only way UA medical residents can receive abortion training is through Planned Parenthood.
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