I have been waiting to write an article on this topic for a long time partly due to lack of understanding and mostly due to my disgust that something like this even exists and maybe a little out of fear of the backlash that might ensue.
As a freshman, it did not take me long to discover that athletics are a major priority here at Saint Xavier. Naturally, if a school values its athletic programs, it values its athletes.
With the high value placed on athletic ability comes certain privileges, most of which I understand.
In addition to scholarship money, they are allowed to register early in order to ensure that no classes conflict with games and practices, their meal plans are adjusted to accommodate an extremely active lifestyle, they’re given uniforms and other apparel to ensure that they are representing their Saint Xavier athletic team wherever they go. That all makes sense to me.
You can tell a lot about a school by what it chooses to spend money on and placing athletics high on the list of priorities is fine, in fact, it’s rather common nowadays.
However, to value one type of student (in this case, the student athlete) should not also mean that other students (the non-athletes) will be undervalued, and in the case of Saint Xavier University non-athletes, mocked.
I cannot recall exactly, but I would assume I became aware of the term “NARP” sometime early in my freshman year here at Saint Xavier.
For those that do not know (but I am quite certain everyone does), the acronym NARP, as I understand it, stands for Non – Athletic Regular Person.
I have no idea where or how this word originated, in fact, if anyone does know, I implore you to send me a message and explain.
I’ve been called a NARP. I’ve heard athletes use this word to refer to other people, and I’ve heard non-athletes use this word to refer to each other. In fact, what finally prompted me to write this article was a conversation I overheard in the diner just last week.
I was waiting in line for my order at the grill during the lunch rush (like we all have to do from time to time, athletes or not) a male student grabbed an order that did not belong to him amidst all of the chaos and confusion.
That order actually belonged to a student that I know to be an athlete. He was obviously upset that someone accidently snatched his order so the female student standing next to him, who I also know to be an athlete, blurted out “Are you going to let that NARP take your lunch?” The two then proceeded to have a good laugh at the non-athlete’s expense.
I cannot be entirely certain what the intention of that comment was, but I can assure you it was not complementary or compassionate.
It seemed to me as if she was implying that he made that honest mistake because we a lowly non-athlete or maybe that the male athlete should never allow a non-athlete to get away with accidently taking the lunch intended for him.
Whatever it was, it was rude and I’ll be first person to say that the term NARP is absurd.
Aside from it being completely and literally untrue, it is also a blanket statement used to refer to vast group of unique, talented, valuable and dare I even say ATHLETIC students.
I’ll use myself as an example. By calling me a NARP you are implying that I am not athletic, correct.
I’ve been dancing ballet since I was six years old, which, few people realize, requires the use and strength of muscles that most people do not even know exist. And, to top it all off, we have to make it look easy, effortless in fact.
So, despite my lack of desire to partake in a college level sport, I could argue that I, and many other “NARPS” and the definition of athletic.
By using this term to describe me you are also implying that I am “regular” as if being an athlete makes you super-human or simply above us “regular” folk.
If you ask me, no one is regular. I’m an identical twin, I am as far from regular as it gets. And that’s just one example.
As I’ve tried to explain, the literal meaning of that term is absolutely packed with flaws. But for me, it’s not so much about what it means, it’s about what it implies and the way it’s used.
We may use it jokingly, but it’s far from a joke.
It is used to remind non-athletes that they’re not important and not talented and that they don’t deserve the status or special privileges awarded to hard-working athletes.
When in fact, non-athletes are some of the most talented and hard-working students out there.
Because there is so much less scholarship money available to those of us who excel academically, while athletes are at practices or competing, non-athletes work part-time jobs, even several part-time jobs just to stay afloat.
A lot of non-athletes push themselves insanely hard academically because their brain is what will get them a good job and help them achieve their goals.
In the end, I would love to see this word thrown away completely, it’s outdated and represents a hierarchy that we ought to be working against.
But, I highly doubt we’ll be strong or persistent enough to eradicate it.
For now, I just ask that Saint Xavier students remember that we’re all valuable and talented. Just by way of being a college student you are hard-working and worthy of respect.
Some of us strengthen our muscles and others strengthen their minds, it’s the way that we work together and use or different talents to build a strong and diverse community.
We’re not athletes and NARPs. We are students, we are men and women, we are friends, we are cougars.
Bridget Goedke
Senior Viewpoints Editor
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