Editor:

On a recent cold and rainy evening, a few friends and I decided to head out for a nice, competitive, warm game of basketball at the glorious Rec Center. We pay our $25 per semester fee just as everyone else, so it seems only fair that we get a chance to utilize our money. We got to the gym around 7:30. After surrendering our identifications to the gym "bouncer," we prepared to await the 30 minutes or so that it would take to claim our court. We called the court (we were the third team down) and began the dreaded wait.

As luck would have it, the games went surprisingly quickly, and we were on the court in only 28 minutes of sitting. About three minutes into the game, a large intramural group arrived and kicked us off of the court. Knowing that the Rec Center has FIVE basketball courts, we felt nothing was lost ... minus the 30-minute wait, of course. Our eyes then fell to the other two courts. Approximately 28,000 people were lined up, each calling, "Hey, I've got next game!" Still, we felt nothing was lost. We all headed over to the other courts, where not a sole was to be seen, only to be told as if we were a bunch of thugs, "Hey, you guys cannot play basketball over here!! The new Recreation Center rules specifically state that no basketball is to be played in the South Gym. It is reserved for volleyball and club sports, ONLY." We asked why the intramural teams could not play on the empty courts, and why there were only two courts left for open basketball. We got the runaround. Frustrated, and completely baffled, we then left.

The Rec Center is a very nice place. The staff is very courteous, the equipment is great, and the facilities as a whole are wonderful. I feel, however, that other steps can be taken to avoid the aforementioned circumstances. I would like to urge the Rec Center management to look further into the utilization of their basketball courts. This is not the first time that I have been kicked off of a basketball court for other activities ... badminton, volleyball and pingpong all come to mind. I know that the Rec Center is for the benefit of all students, but when no one is using the facilities, and there is an overwhelming majority seeking use of those facilities, there is a slight problem. Hopefully, we can get these small clashes resolved.

Lance Hill

civil engineering junior

Lance Hill
Civil Engineering junior