It's difficult for me to have sympathy for International Athletes that are frustrated with the NCAA "NIL" laws and rules here in the United States, when we don't even have all the kinks worked out yet for our own citizen athletes. The whole NIL issue is brand new. Everybody in the U.S. is still feeling their way through the maze called "NIL". Furthermore, these "international athletes" are guests of the United States, and America's tax paying citizens. Most are here on F-1 Student Visa's courtesy of the U.S. federal government, and most are getting a free education courtesy of the American Taxpayer.
But when did U.S taxpayers become
obligated to make things even
easier --or more "diverse" (to use their vernacular)-- for
visiting International Athletes and students, who are ultimately scheduled to return home some day? The fact that Bolivian citizen Montalvo was "invited" to participate in an Emerging Leadership Seminar for professional development, was a good thing. The fact that she thought International Athletes were
under-represented at the seminar-- is not. It smacks of ungratefulness, and is almost laughable. It's akin to me being invited to Dr Guice's nice home for dinner, and then taking the liberty of telling Dr Guice and his lovely wife what they need to
change in their home to make it more appealing. Montalvo even recommends universities in the U.S.
hire more International Athletes to alleviate such problems. My response:
Of course she does. Never mind, most of these International Athletes are already getting a free ride to an American University that is supported and funded by American taxpayers.
There's an old saying in business,
"if you don't like the way we run things here, you can always take your business across the street". Maybe the ungrateful Montalvo would be better served by simply being an "International Athlete" in Russia? Or Germany? Or Canada? Or Australia? Or China? Hey, I'm sure the Chinese Communist government is very interested in "NIL" opportunities for their visiting "International Students".