At university, sports and social activities are just as important as classes and libraries and should receive equal financial support

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? At university, sports and social activities are just as important as classes and libraries and should receive equal financial support. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Should universities allocate money equally to both extra-curricular activities and classes as well as libraries? I am of the opinion that a college is supposed to put a high value not only on teaching resources but also on social activities and athletics.

Admittedly, some may argue that universities should give priority to curriculum and libraries. This is because these things can make it more likely for students to achieve academic success and find high-paying jobs. Nevertheless, I believe that sports and social activities also play a pivotal role in students’ well-rounded development for the following reasons.

One reason is that athletics can keep students physically and psychologically healthy, hence making them more resilient to stress. Increasingly stiff competition has actually put students under immense pressure. If these students fail to work out on a regular basis, they may lead a sedentary lifestyle, ending up suffering from some stress-induced diseases such as depression and overweight. Therefore, in this case, doing sports routinely seems to be an essential part of students’ daily life. For example, schools can invest in a public gym and make it accessible to students for free. This can genuinely give the students motivation to do exercise regularly and develop a wholesome lifestyle.

In addition, participating in social activities is also a recipe for gaining soft skills. Firstly, getting involved in some social activities can give students’ interpersonal skills an upgrade. This point can be best illustrated by the example of doing voluntary work in museums where students can learn how to communicate with visitors and respond to their needs. Besides, some other social activities can give students an opportunity to cultivate their team spirits. For instance, in the process of conducting a social survey, students have to assign their tasks like data-gathering, report-writing and looking for references, which will  elevate their awareness of collaboration.

In summary, even though I admit that it is crucial for universities to enhance their classes and libraries, different forms of sports and social activities should also be funded equally since these can be generally considered as a cornerstone of students’ future development.