Spring Break
Population influx leaves students competing for playing space
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Now that the school year has begun again, the Drexel campus has been flooded with a sea of freshman. Facilities are being used to capacity, but there is nowhere else on campus where space is at a premium more than at Buckley Green.
The turf field at 33rd and Arch streets was dedicated in May of 1995 to give the students a recreational field on campus. The soccer-field size plot quickly became a popular spot for a wide variety of sports, especially ultimate frisbee and soccer. Back in 1995, there were approximately 4,500 undergrads on the Drexel University City campus. The student body was beginning to grow too large for the field to accompany students then, and the problem has only worsened today as Drexel has surpassed 11,000 undergraduate students.
Not only does the school have limited space for athletic activity, the space is only available certain times during the day. Club and varsity teams reserve the field on a regular basis, effectively preventing anyone else from using it. This week, I witnessed a club sport take over Buckley Field when they had it reserved, and by doing so, they halted three different groups from playing, sending approximately 50 students home. This is sending an indelible message to the students because many of them will not even attempt to come out to Buckley because they assume the field will not be available.
Whenever I come out with a group of friends to play ultimate frisbee, we need half of the field to play. Quite often, we cannot claim any part of the field. As a temporary solution, we play on Cuthbert Street, the closed off stretch of asphalt and concrete between Buckley Green and the armory. The street is riddled with danger for a game like ultimate frisbee. There are cracks in the concrete, trees, a dumpster, broken glass and distinct curbs. The city-feel of the playing area has led to it being coined as Gerald Field, based on the field from the show "Hey Arnold!" which aired in the days most current college students watched Nickelodeon. The demand to allot more playing surface is apparent, and it should be addressed before someone gets seriously hurt.
The turf field at 33rd and Arch streets was dedicated in May of 1995 to give the students a recreational field on campus. The soccer-field size plot quickly became a popular spot for a wide variety of sports, especially ultimate frisbee and soccer. Back in 1995, there were approximately 4,500 undergrads on the Drexel University City campus. The student body was beginning to grow too large for the field to accompany students then, and the problem has only worsened today as Drexel has surpassed 11,000 undergraduate students.
Not only does the school have limited space for athletic activity, the space is only available certain times during the day. Club and varsity teams reserve the field on a regular basis, effectively preventing anyone else from using it. This week, I witnessed a club sport take over Buckley Field when they had it reserved, and by doing so, they halted three different groups from playing, sending approximately 50 students home. This is sending an indelible message to the students because many of them will not even attempt to come out to Buckley because they assume the field will not be available.
Whenever I come out with a group of friends to play ultimate frisbee, we need half of the field to play. Quite often, we cannot claim any part of the field. As a temporary solution, we play on Cuthbert Street, the closed off stretch of asphalt and concrete between Buckley Green and the armory. The street is riddled with danger for a game like ultimate frisbee. There are cracks in the concrete, trees, a dumpster, broken glass and distinct curbs. The city-feel of the playing area has led to it being coined as Gerald Field, based on the field from the show "Hey Arnold!" which aired in the days most current college students watched Nickelodeon. The demand to allot more playing surface is apparent, and it should be addressed before someone gets seriously hurt.
Be the first to comment on this story