Monday, February 9, 1998
Sports unwelcome on Sunset Rec lawns
WEATHER When rain hits, students have no place to play with
Canyon off-limits
By Scot Sargeant
Daily Bruin Contributor
With competition tough to secure intramural fields, students are
complaining over the limited access to Sunset Canyon’s recreational
area.
Because student organized games not affiliated with intramural
sports have the least priority to claiming the IM field, students
often must look for other venues to satisfy their athletic
needs.
The only other on-campus recreational area is the Sunset Canyon
Recreational Center. The problem, however, is that organized sports
are not allowed on the lawns. Consequently, students who are
interested in playing football, soccer, etc. have nowhere to play
when the intramural fields are being used, or are closed due to
rain.
"I can’t understand why they won’t allow organized sports on the
Sunset field," said Kent Fung, a first-year chemistry student. "Why
leave the fields empty when students can be taking advantage of its
use?"
Contrary to popular belief, Sunset’s field is considered a lawn.
"Sunset Canyon is a park for casual recreation," said Judith
Sperling, manager of Sunset Canyon Recreational Center. "No
organized sports are permitted; rather, the lawn is available for
light recreational use."
By light recreational use, Sperling means activities such as
sunning, picnicking and playing catch are permitted. Students who
are found playing football or similar sports are kicked off.
"We don’t consider the lawns as fields in the sense that they
can be used for running sports," Sperling said. "We are promoting a
more informal atmosphere."
Many students are unaware of this policy, however, as no signs
are posted stating the limitations.
Further confusion arises because many students have the
impression that the field is available only for ultimate frisbee, a
football-like game that uses a frisbee.
According to Sperling, occasional games of ultimate frisbee are
allowed.
"If the students can agree to play in a manner that won’t be
damaging to the lawn, we are willing to come to an agreement," she
said.
However, this policy may be receiving scrutiny from the
directors of the Sunset Canyon Recreational Center. Apparently, a
student organized game of ultimate frisbee last Tuesday left the
lawn torn up and muddy. The problems associated with the use of the
Sunset Canyon Recreational Center’s lawns are exacerbated when it
rains.
"There is a great impact on the turf when people play on it when
it’s wet," said Jack Powazek, assistant vice chancellor for
Facilities Management.
"When people play on the wet grass, they tear the roots of the
grass up, therefore destroying the grass," he continued.
The official policy at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center and
at the intramural fields is to prohibit field use when the fields
become muddy.
"Our primary goal is to protect the fields," said Rudy Figueroa,
student coordinator for intramural sports. "We need the fields to
be available for use throughout the year."
These rain problems are experienced on the intramural fields as
well.
"The IM fields are heavily utilized during the year," said
Powazek. "This leaves us with very short windows to reseed and
resod the fields."
Some students agreed with the policies set forth by Facilities
Management. "I think that it’s fair they close the fields when it’s
wet," said Amber Ong, a first-year undeclared student. "Otherwise
we wouldn’t have any grass when the fields are dry."
Other students felt that these concerns were unwarranted.
"Closing the IM fields because of rain makes no sense," said Robert
Barnett, a first-year electrical engineering student.
"More damage is done to the grass by players who use cleats than
by students playing in the rain," he added.
Students often ignore these regulations by jumping over the
fences around the intramural fields. There are no fences around
Sunset’s lawn.
"There’s a cumulative effect: The more you pound the field and
use it, the more damage is done," said Powazek. "It becomes very
problematic to repair the damage, because the fields turn to
mud."
"The grass doesn’t magically grow back," he added. "It takes
around four to six weeks for new grass to take root and grow."
JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS/Daily Bruin
Despite the IM field’s being closed due to muddy conditions,
some students still venture out to use the field. Unlike Sunset
Canyon, the IM fields allow organized sports.
JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS/Daily Bruin
The closed IM field has left students with no alternative places
to play.