Last month, the Boston Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB”) ruled that members of the Dartmouth men’s basketball team are employees and as such have the right to unionize. Wasting no time, yesterday, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team voted 13-2 to unionize. Many educational industry onlookers saw this as the necessary next step in granting employment status to all college athletes – not just the national powerhouses.

Although the decision is expected to be appealed, there is no doubt the decision, if upheld, will mark a seismic shift in collegiate athletics. Why? Because if Dartmouth men’s basketball players are employees, then arguably all collegiate athletes, both men and women, in all divisions, should also be considered employees eligible for unionization and maybe even compensation.