UCLA Labor Day tweet ignites controversy, promptly deleted
Former NFL tight end Tom Crabtree (@itsCrab) posted this screenshot on Twitter yesterday of a deleted tweet from the Wooden Athletic Fund.
By Tanner Walters
Sept. 8, 2015 2:34 p.m.
A midday tweet from the Wooden Athletic Fund caused controversy Monday, thanking UCLA donors for allowing Bruin student-athletes to “go to work.” The account quickly removed the tweet after multiple individuals and even a former NFL player questioned the wording.
Fueled by the current national debate over whether NCAA student-athletes should be paid, much of the Twitter reaction came from the connotation of the word “work.” While it is a common sports phrase, a number of people felt that the characterization was inappropriate coming from an organization that does not treat athletes as employees.
The Wooden Athletic Fund, the fundraising arm of the UCLA athletic department, deleted the tweet within hours of its posting, but not before former NFL tight end Tom Crabtree posted a screenshot to his 115,000 followers. Crabtree attended college at Miami University and retired from professional football earlier this year.
ESPN baseball writer Keith Law picked up Crabtree’s tweet on Tuesday, asking his nearly-half-million followers, “Work, huh? Doesn’t work usually involve a salary?”
Just last month, the National Labor Relations Board overturned a 2014 ruling that allowed Northwestern University football players to unionize with the College Athletes Players Association, an organization run by former UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma.
The latest decision was seen as a major victory for Northwestern, as the university had appealed to the NLRB to block union efforts. The ruling, however, did not address whether or not students could be considered employees.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Wooden Athletic Fund office had not yet responded to a request for comment on why they decided to delete the tweet entirely.
Compiled by Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.
