In March, a Wall Street Journal photographer captured the men’s basketball team after it voted 13-2 to unionize. “Today is a big day for our team,” wrote Cade Haskins ’25 and Romeo Myrthil ’25 in a statement. “Let’s work together to create a less exploitative business model for college sports.” Players believe they should be compensated the same as student employees, primarily to “alleviate the need for second jobs,” gain better healthcare benefits, and cover costs of treating injuries. They do not receive athletic scholarships, which are banned in the Ivy League.

Dartmouth officials oppose the move—which makes the team the first unionized college sports team in the country—and insist the players are not employees. So far, the National Labor Relations Board disagrees, and a federal appeals court in July declined to rule out the possibility of college athletes being considered employees of their schools, as requested by the NCAA. A protracted legal fight is expected.