There are certain elements of collegiate life that I have grown to take for granted. The food at the Pit isn’t going to change, the weather will continue its schizophrenia, the incoming freshmen will continue to get shorter and I will always be able to participate in intramurals. However, recent events have popped my bubble.
Just recently, events beyond my control prevented my beloved intramural team (Team America) from competing. This team goes all the way back to my first year when we were naught but freshmen trying to make friends with others on our hall. Now, imagine my displeasure and anger when I found out that my captain was one of a few who has had a plea denied because, and I quote, “it’s too crowded.”
Let me explain something to you: it’s never too crowded. You can always fit more people in. Besides, what seems to be the issue? Can’t get enough people to be the refs? It’s not like they’re actually policing games. In fact, several times over my intramural career I have almost gotten into physical confrontations that had to be broken up by teammates. Not enough people working in the Intramural Sports Office? Recruit more people; it’s not that complicated. I’m a Sports Editor and I rarely, if ever, get the necessary amount of writers on a weekly basis. What am I to do, not put out a paper? No, I figure out a way to get the job done. Instead of making a six-team league, make it a 10-team league. And if you can’t figure out a way to make a schedule, I’m sure our myriad math professors will be happy to help out. Add a different night for games and people will figure out a way to make that schedule work.
Some of you may say, “what’s the big deal? It’s just intramurals.” Intramurals are perhaps the purest form of sport. No one is getting paid and most of the people aren’t very good, but people are good-natured about it because otherwise they wouldn’t be playing. Am I ever going to be able to play in the NBA or even Division III basketball? Hell no (although if I grew a half foot, got a jump shot and gained 20 pounds of muscle, my potential would be off the charts). But at least I was able, for an hour a week, to play with a group of friends and have a great time doing it. Now that it’s no longer an option, I have lost a lot of respect for the Intramural Office. Never have I seen a more blatant disregard for students than the closing off of intramurals. What’s next, closing off the Pit at noon because of the crowds?
I hope that this was an isolated incident that will not happen another time. It takes all the fun out of intramurals if teams are randomly selected to not be able to compete because of a crowding issue. I implore whoever is in charge of the situation to reconsider how they make decisions about scheduling and other quirks because nothing sucks more than sitting on the sidelines.
Maystrovsky is a member of the class of 2009.
