University of Virginia Library

Corrigan Cites Overcrowded Gym

By Fred Heblich
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Recently many students have donned
their sneakers and jockstraps and made
the long cold trek to Memorial
Gymnasium to play basketball only to
find that they are unable to use the
basketball courts.

Intramural basketball has begun, and
beginning next week the gym will be used
for IM games every evening, Monday
through Thursday.

As it stands now, the gym is open to
what is called "free play" only from 10
a.m. to noon and from 3:05 to 6:45 p.m. on
Monday and Wednesday; from 8 to 1 p.m. and
3 to 11 p.m. on Friday; from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
on Saturday; and from 12 noon to 11 p.m. on
Sunday.

Recent Complaints

At all other times the gym is reserved for
either physical education classes or for IM
games. This present schedule will probably
continue until spring.

The recent complaints over the use of
Memorial Gym only dramatize the lack of
recreation facilities that the University provides
for its University Athletics, said yesterday. "We
could use another Memorial Gym right now."

During the semester break Memorial Gym
was closed so that the floor could be refinished.
Because so many students stayed in town and
wanted to use recreational facilities, the athletic
department broke with their usual rules and
allowed students to use University Hall.

It is unlikely that this practice will become
commonplace because of several difficulties
outlined by Mr. Corrigan. He pointed out that
University Hall does not have adequate dressing
facilities, and also that the building is rented
often by University and outside groups making
the scheduling of times for student use
impractical.

Difficult Administration

He added that full-time supervision would
be needed to insure the security of equipment
in the building, as well as extra maintenance
personnel.

"This is a very difficult building to
administer," he admitted.

Aside from the use of Memorial Gym and
University Hall, Mr. Corrigan admitted that the
University needed to expand its recreational
facilities in other areas. "We need more tennis
courts in the worst way," he stated. Also
mentioned were swimming facilities, squash
courts, handball courts, and sports fields.

Facility Shortage

In relation to the rest of the Atlantic Coast
Conference schools, the University seems to
rank ahead of Maryland in facilities per student,
behind North Carolina State and Wake Forest,
and about the same with North Carolina, Duke
and Clemson. The status of South Carolina is
uncertain.

The lack of recreational facilities for
students here seems to be the result of two
factors.

One is obviously the growth of the student
body, and the other is the rise in importance
and participation in club sports.

"The rise of club sports," Mr. Corrigan said,
"has made the need for facilities dramatic."

The athletic department has made some
steps to improve the availability and quality of
sports facilities, but Mr. Corrigan admits that it
has not done nearly enough and the situation
will become more critical if new construction is
not undertaken.

"The state has not gotten into recreation for
colleges," Mr. Corrigan said. "We have to pay
our own way."

The new track, which is part of a proposed
complex to include a baseball field, a soccer
field, a practice football field, four softball
diamonds, a putting green, and a golf tee, was
funded mainly through private contributions.

The track alone cost over $150,000. The
cost for completion of the other facilities has
not been estimated yet.

The baseball field will be completed this
spring and Mr. Corrigan optimistically predicts
the other two fields will be ready to use in
September of 1972.

New Complex

The construction of these facilities will
depend primarily on private funding. Another
proposal has been made to include handball
courts in the new dormitory complex to be
built on Lambeth field.

Although the present situation with regard
to the use of Memorial Gym is admittedly
unfair to non-IM students. Mr. Corrigan stated
that at the present there has been no practical
solution proposed which would be equitable to
both sides.

So it appears that students will have to
either accept the present situation and wait for
warmer weather, or develop an interest in other
forms of indoor recreation.