Conflict of interest

Today, I finally came to a breaking point in my current assignment.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been working for an agency that helps match organizations with corporate sponsorships. While data entry sucks, I didn't mind entering arts organizations, who can use the help. I was even able to justify the 200 pages of University Athletics, by telling myself that if corporations sponsor these "student-athletes" that it will free up school resources for other causes (financial aid for people who actually need it, the arts, living wage, etc.)

But today as I entered pages of professional sports teams, I finally had it. I cannot justify helping facilitate the over-funding of sports in this country. There are too many steroid-monkeys living on ridiculous money for minimal effort. Families are charged absurd prices to support their teams, but they still go (I live in Cubs town, and even when they lose, people still see the games). Clearly these organizations need no more help finding money.

As a novice grant writer, I find this a conflict of interest. I know how hard it is to find funding for the arts, since most money has already been snapped up by sports. Most of the people working in theatre I know are living without health insurance, even when they work full time, because theatres can't afford to offer it.

I tried to explain this to the agency that placed me. They didn't understand, but they said they would try to extricate me. Unfortunately, this will take a week.

It's bad enough that this happens. But I don't need to help it along.

on the tube: Pride & Prejudice (the Keira Knightley one)