wednesday,november 19,2003
news
the university daily kansan
Shortage of racquetball courts frustrates students
By Steve Schmidt
sschmidt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The new racquetball courts at the Student Fitness Recreation Center have only been open since Halloween but the fewer number of courts has some students upset.
"It's just frustrating when I don't have three hours to wait around," said Scott Mayo, Lenexa junior. "I just want to play racquetball. It's selfish, but we've got lives."
Mayo has been playing the sport since his junior year of high school and has never had problems playing at the facilities at Robinson Center, where students used to be able to walk in without scheduling an appointment.
Robinson has seven racquetball courts and one squash court. The new recreation center has two racquetball courts with one that can be transformed into a squash court.
Jerry Phillips, director of facilities for Robinson, said that his building was used strictly for academic purposes, such as teaching athletics courses, because it no longer received any funding from student-activity fees.
University faculty and staff are allowed to use the facilities through funding from the provost office.
Phillips said he was open to renting out the facilities such as the racquetball rooms at designated time slots but wanted students to first consult recreation services.
"It's just frustrating when I don't have three hours to wait around. I just want to play racquetball. It's selfish, but we've got lives."
Scott Mayo
Lenexa junior
Mary Chappell, director of recreation services, said a student-run recreation advisory board is looking into options such as renting out court time at Robinson. The board is composed of six students and three non-voting faculty advisers. All members are appointed by Andy Knopp, student body president.
Lately, Chappell has seen more people playing the sport at the new center than previously at Robinson.
At the time, the trend of racquetball and handball was slowly dying. Chappell said. She added that when she first came to the University in 1992, Robinson had 15 racquetball courts.
She said the cut in number of courts came when students handed in lists of what they wanted to be in the new center about five years ago. Racquetball wasn't a top priority back then, she said.
"It wasn't even in the mix,"
INFO ON RACQUETBALL
The Student Fitness
Recreation Center's
racquetball courts are open 6
a.m. to midnight, Monday
through Friday; 10 a.m. to 10
p.m., Saturday and 10 a.m. to
midnight, Sunday.
One of the courts is set aside for squash from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
To reserve, call 864-1369.
Reservations cannot be made more than 24 hours in advance.
Students are allowed to use equipment as long as they have their KU cards.
Source: Recreation Services
Chappell said.
She said the need for more cardiovascular equipment, such as treadmills, was the top request, followed by more basketball courts, an indoor track and increased time at the pool.
In the meantime, Chappell said she wanted students to give her staff a little time to work any other potential problems out.
"We've really only been here two months," Chappell said. "It's like moving into a new house. You think your curtains look good at one place and you move and decide they look good somewhere else. That's what we're dealing with."
Lindsey Gold/Kansan
— Edited by Ehren Meditz
Gloriana Hernandez, San Josee, Costa Rica, junior played racquetball yesterday afternoon in the Student Recreation Center. Hernadez has come twice a week with friend Manrique Cartin, San Josee, Costa Rica, freshman, to play at the center now that Robinson has closed its courts to the student body. "It's really pretty hard to get a court and a reservation," Hernandez said. "Everyone wants to play."
MIDWEST AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION 24 Hour Shuttle Transportation
Call Toll Free
1-888-467-3729
Local:
838-4500
14