The petitioner, like many American citizens, holds deep concerns regarding the current practice of offering athletic scholarships and athletic positions to international students. This sentiment is born from the fact that numerous capable and deserving domestic students are being denied opportunities at American colleges and universities  because the scholarships and positions are being offered to their foreign counterparts. This is an injustice to our American students who must compete against the entire globe to vie for a position on a team in their own home country.   American students, from a population of 335 million, must compete against an unlimited population pool from around the world. (Europe and Japan alone are over 1 billion not to mention another 3/4 of a billion from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.). This puts American students at an unfair disadvantage that has gone unchecked.    In fact, over 65% of men's and women's tennis scholarships are given to foreigners and even more of them receive non-scholarship positions. Some institutions do not even have one American on their team. Considering there are over 300,000 American High School students who compete in High School tennis, this is a travesty. In 2022 only 0.6% of male and .5% of female players competed at NCAA I schools.  The numbers of international athletes are growing for other sports as well with men’s and women’s ice hockey approaching 40% and men’s soccer at 34%.

In addition to the unfairness of the disproportionate competition pool, there has been a failure to recognize the rights of American citizens based on their contributions to American institutions of higher learning.   It is American taxpayer money that has built the roads, freeways, airports and infrastructure necessary for colleges and universities to function.  It is the work and ingenuity of American citizens which has built and fuels our domestic economy enabling them to flourish.   It is also American citizens who have sacrificed much in the fight for this country's freedoms thereby providing the umbrella of security and stability under which these institutions stand. And, of course, most colleges and universities, including private ones, accept federal and state aid.  In addition to this, 18-year-old American male citizens are required to be registered with The Selective Services in order to serve their country should it be required. It is clear that much has been given by American citizen students and their families, and much is expected from them as well.

Conversely, international student athletes have not contributed tax dollars or supported the economies or communities in the United States, nor have their families sacrificed as veterans, nor do they have to register with The Selective Services. Yet, as already stated, especially in men's and women's tennis, they are given far more scholarship money and athletic opportunities than American players.

The petitioner welcomes and appreciates Foreign students and the diversity they bring to our institutions but there is currently no limit to how many international students may participate on athletic teams and receive scholarships.  Also, it must be stated that these international athletes are not immigrants, asylum-seekers or refugees, but highly trained athletes from countries like Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Japan, The United Kingdom, France, Finland, Sweden, and every country in Europe.  Some may argue that Institutions of higher learning recruit International students because they believe that this enhances the diversity of their university.  But this is contravertible given the fact that among football players at American colleges and universities only 2% are foreigners.

This petition, therefore, calls for the educational authorities and collegiate sporting bodies to limit the percentage of foreign students participating in college and university teams to 10% - 15% while giving 100% of the athletic scholarships on those teams to American students.

Making a change in this policy would not only encourage domestic athletic talent but also cultivate a sense of fairness in terms of competition and resource distribution while acknowledging American citizens' contributions and their subsequent rights. 

Let's bring fairness to American student athletes and give them the opportunities they deserve. Sign this petition now.