Sport Clubs Fill the Void in Athletic Programs
Few members of PVCC’s Ultimate Frisbee club braved the blustery weather on Friday, January 30, to meet and play together on the athletic field. Powerful, and frequent gusts of wind prevented the use of Frisbees for most of the practice. However, the group quickly substituted discs with a football, determined to get the most of the practice regardless of the objectionable conditions, which included a muddy field and temperatures in the low forties. Their determination to participate in student athletics is something of a necessity for PVCC’s sports-oriented students, who have no other recourse for college athletics than sport clubs.
The Ultimate Frisbee club, led by student Calvin Biesecker, is just one of a handful of athletic clubs at PVCC. Other clubs include tennis, ping pong, soccer, dance, and unicycling (the last of which is also led by Calvin Biesecker). These clubs provide students with an opportunity to engage in physical activities within the PVCC community — something typically derived from organized school-affiliated athletic programs, which PVCC lacks.
The absence of organized athletics at PVCC is a drawback for some students, some of whom feel that the school lacks viable options for athletic students. “I moved here from New York, and ultimate Frisbee was basically the only [sport] offered. It was that or do nothing” said Corey Fullers, a member of PVCC’s Ultimate Frisbee club. Other students believe that having organized sport programs would be a boon to PVCC, such as Business Administration and Accounting student John Wiggins, 21, who stated, “Having legitimate teams would probably make people want to come here more.”
As appealing as the idea of PVCC athletics might be to some students, many recognize the practical hindrances to the creation of an athletics program here at PVCC. Firstly, the college would have to join the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), as other schools within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) have. Of course, the maintenance of facilities and equipment as well as transportation would incur added costs. Among the students who understand the absence of athletic programs is Liberal Arts major and Ultimate Frisbee club member Taylor Santiago, 22, who said, “It would be sweet to have programs, but not cost effective.”
However, a more substantial reason to maintain clubs over athletic programs exists. As former Forum writer Jessica Bowman pointed out in a February 2012 article on the prospect of athletic programs at PVCC, competitive athletic teams are inherently discriminatory. Colleges want to field teams populated with the best players available. Naturally, with teams come try outs and the elimination of less skilled athletes. Alternatively, clubs are open to everyone, thus encouraging the culture of diversity that makes PVCC a unique and welcoming school.
Thankfully, PVCC more than makes up for its lack of organized athletic programs with the extensive facilities available to students and faculty. The Fitness Center, located in M173, contains a variety of machines from stationary bikes to treadmills, as well as free weights. The Campus also has outdoor athletic facilities, which include tennis courts, a softball diamond and adjacent athletic field, a scenic cross-country path and a basketball court. All of these facilities are available for students to use. Information about recreational sports and activities can be found on the bulletin boards in the Bolick Student Center.
