When the Dartmouth College men’s basketball team filed a petition to unionize this week, it was a reminder of how much the movement for player empowerment has grown in college sports.
The petition, filed to the National Labor Relations Board by the Service Employees International Union, was unanimously signed by all 15 players on the team, the union said. It was immediately backed by supporters of more rights for college athletes, and Dartmouth itself said it was considering how to respond.
In a statement, the Ivy League school said it had “the utmost respect for our students and for unions generally” and that it was “carefully considering this petition with the aim of responding promptly yet thoughtfully in accordance with Dartmouth’s educational mission and priorities.