Faculty members at Big 12 Conference schools are trying to reclaim their power.

They are concerned that the emphasis on and expense of major college sports are overwhelming what should be the universities’ core mission: academics. It’s easy to understand their concern. It may be more difficult to address it.

A University of Missouri professor is calling on his colleagues to support a resolution aimed at reining in college athletic. One of the key components of the resolution is to require public disclosure of athletic department finances. Other provisions are aimed at reducing special treatment, especially special academic treatment, of college athletes.

It’s not surprising that this return-to-academics movement is starting at MU, which has been suffering through the fiasco of a former basketball player who used questionable summer school credits to maintain his academic eligibility and later landed in jail in connection with a domestic assault on his girlfriend. The player’s antics and phone calls from jail caused considerable embarrassment to top university officials.

But, unfortunately, the problems at MU could happen at other universities. Kansas State University football coach Bill Snyder had to make some tough decisions regarding his star quarterback after the player broke team rules and was accused of sexual assault. No charges will be filed, but considerable damage was done both to KSU’s reputation and the Wildcats’ performance in the Fiesta Bowl. Kansas University athletic programs have avoided serious player infractions, but university officials are under fire for the large compensation packages — which they refuse to disclose — being paid to top athletic department officials.

It’s no wonder university professors are calling foul. Athletic departments can argue that their funding is separate from the rest of the university, but it comes from somewhere. Who’s to say that donors couldn’t be convinced to direct more of their gifts to academic, rather than athletic, programs? Are professors who are tops in their academic fields, both as teachers and researchers, any less valuable to the university than the basketball and football coaches or various athletic department officials?

If the core mission of a university is to educate students, the obvious answer would be no, but it’s not that simple. Athletics is all many people know about a university. Sports often are called the front door of a university. There are thousands of basketball or football fans out there who could name every player on the team but have no idea about what research is being done in the engineering school or political science department. Nor do they really care. Their loyalty to the university is based on the team.

That gives university athletic departments a lot of power. Too much power, according to the MU professor’s resolution. He has a point worth considering. Are priorities of universities and their financial supporters out of whack? The salaries being paid to some athletics officials and the money being spent on athletic facilities would seem to indicate they are. But unless a large group of major universities call a halt to the athletics arms race, it will be difficult to pull back.

It’s also important to remember that fans bear some responsibility. Even if they sympathize with the MU professor’s resolution it’s unlikely fans will lead the charge to de-emphasize sports. They might be in favor of spending less money on athletics but only if the university could maintain its winning teams.

It’s a complicated situation, but the movement starting at MU raises important points and is a refreshing departure from the win-at-any-cost philosophy that seems to have taken over many university athletic departments. Reining in college athletics may not be a popular move, but if they are to vigorously pursue their academic missions, university officials may have to admit it’s the right thing to do.