With 38 club sports teams offered by the U of C athletic department, it seems there’s something for everyone. Students can test their martial arts skills at two kinds of karate, ready themselves for retirement on the golf or sailing teams, or take out their finals-week frustrations on the rugby pitch. If you’re looking to start a club for a more mainstream sport, however, odds are you’re going to strike out.
Athletic department policy dictates that sports clubs can only receive funding if there’s no corresponding varsity team. Students hoping to get around that policy by applying to become an RSO don’t fare any better. The Committee on RSOs currently does not approve sports organizations, with the justification that they’re the purview of the athletic department.
The department’s policy has its merits, freeing up funding for a diverse array of sports. With many club teams already strapped for cash, the prospect of adding a club team where a varsity one already exists would place an added strain on available resources. Yet, in order to serve the most students possible, the athletic department should take general interest into account as well.
Club sports serve as an excellent middle ground for many students who want more than IMs have to offer, but can’t make the time commitment required by a varsity team. Moreover, many varsity athletes are recruited before they set foot in Hyde Park, leaving few spots for walk-ons. It’s also worth noting that although IMs are an excellent option for some students, they don’t do justice to others who want to compete consistently and at a higher skill level.
Sports like soccer or tennis may already have varsity rosters to their name, but they’re also among the most popular overall—something that can be confirmed by stopping at Henry Crown on a Thursday night or walking by the Stagg tennis courts on a Saturday afternoon. Rather than applying a blanket policy, the athletic department should decide which clubs it chooses to fund based on how many people want to play them.
The Maroon Editorial Board consists of the Editor-in-Chief, Viewpoints Editors, and two additional Editorial Board members.
The University’s policy on club sports reflects a disconnect between the University administration’s perception of student desires and the reality of student wishes. With a plethora of organizations aimed at stimulating intellectual discourse and professional development, I feel the University sometimes forgets that students at such an intense institution also need organizations to help them unwind. Sports clubs form a viable outlet for stress and promote a healthy student body; the University’s current policy stifles student’s who simply want a chance to relax and forget the stress of studying for a while.
It is very disappointing for a sports-enthusiast to contend with the fact that the University maintains such an inflexible policy on club sports. To reiterate an important point that has been mentioned in the above post, an academically rigorous institution such as this one must understand that students feel the need to de-stress, divert their minds, and bond with other students having similar interests. A sports club does exactly that – it provides the perfect medium for sports fans who neither have the time nor the talent for varsity sports to indulge their interests. It would definitely benefit the student body in numerous ways if the University were to change its current stance on club sports.