Saint Joseph’s University vice president and director of athletics Jill Bodensteiner recently testified in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue of NCAA’s name, image, and likeness policy, writes Mia Messina for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Bodensteiner represented smaller institutions like St. Joseph’s as the federal government looks to set a NIL standard across divisions and universities.

“I am especially appreciative of the invitation because I fear that the voice of institutions like St. Joe’s has been lost in the public narrative,” said Bodensteiner during her testimony.

Her testimony focused on the possibility of student-athletes becoming employees, which is “the primary crisis facing college athletics,” she said.

“[Student-athletes] don’t want to have to apply for posted positions when what they’re really going for is an education,” said the former labor and employment attorney.

She added that classifying student-athletes as employees would significantly affect smaller institutions’ finances.

“If our student-athletes are deemed employees, we will transition their financial aid to wages in order to stay competitive,” said Bodensteiner.

“The taxation differences between wages and tuition are extreme and not in the favor of our student-athletes.”

Read more about Jill Bodensteiner’s hearing in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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