NARP

By Lana Lucin

Are you a NARP? 

Wendy Macias studying. Photo Credit: Lana Lucin

According to KRCR News, around 70% of Simpson University students are athletes. With the majority of the student body involved in athletics, those who are not part of a sports team have coined the term “NARP,” meaning Non-Athletic Regular Person.

Wendy Macias, a fourth-year nursing student, identifies as a NARP. Macias originally joined the track team at Simpson but decided that balancing sports with nursing school would be too difficult. 

“The biggest thing I miss about being on an athletic team is the commitment to being active,” said Macias. 

Ines Moreno, a third-year Simpson student, has never played a sport during his time at the university. Although most students are athletes, Moreno feels he isn’t treated any differently by staff or his peers because he is a non-athlete. 

“Most of the time, athletes are more popular, but I don’t feel like I’m treated differently by anyone in the classroom because I don’t play a sport,” said Moreno. 

Moreno shared that the only reason he sometimes wishes he had played a sport in the past is to build discipline and those skills. However, he doesn’t wish to be an athlete now because it would take up too much time. 

Simpson offers many benefits to student athletes, including athletic scholarships and access to athletic trainers. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meets on Tuesdays and encourages non-athletes to attend as well. While there are no specific resources designated for NARPs, this group of students is not excluded from campus life or community events. 

Hannah Parsons, a third-year student, is also a former athlete. During her first year at Simpson, she was part of the women’s basketball team. Although Parsons is no longer on a sports team, she continues to build community with students across campus in other ways. 

“Going to all the events, applying for student leadership, being in student leadership, going to chapel, and always chatting with new people,” said Parsons. 

Despite Simpson non athletics being the minority on campus, they continue to build community on campus and manage life at Simpson.