Student-Athletes: Going to Bed Hungry?

The University of Connecticut recently made the news for winning both the men's and women's national championship in basketball. However, they also made headlines following comments by the men's team star, Shabazz Napier. In an interview, Mr. Napier alleged that he sometimes "goes to bed starving." This allegation adds even more fuel to the unceasing fire that is the debate over the right of college athletes to unionize. Although Mr. Napier may be telling the truth, I find it hard to believe that he would've been unable to gain access to food, especially during basketball season. In addition, Mr. Napier acknowledged that he is a student athlete, rather than an employee of the school. Some people, including Connecticut Rep. Matthew Lesser (D), have attempted to use this statement as an argument for unionization. It seems ridiculous that state politicians are spending their time caring about the unionization of college athletes when our nation has bigger fish to fry. (Food pun!) A followup article found here reacts to the quote and provides valuable information about eating at the University of Connecticut. This makes it even more unlikely that Napier was truly "starving." What do you think? Is this another example of the atrocities of the current NCAA system? Or is it another poor effort to support unionization?