Campus recreation director David Leach responded to concerns about club and intramural sports and about funding for Dillon Gymnasium at yesterday's meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community, assuring attendees that work is being done to remedy the current shortfalls.
"I am hopeful that we will make some strides shortly and that we will continue to make those strides," Leach, also the University's associate athletics director, said. "We are appreciative of the feedback and really want to continue [a] dialogue with our sports club participants."
At the meeting, students questioned the state of recreational facilities on campus, as well as the relationship between club and intramural sports teams.
Both Leach and audience members agreed that a complete renovation of Dillon is necessary to satisfy the needs of a growing student population. Though money has recently been allocated for facilities maintenance, various aspects of the gymnasium remain inadequate.
But current undergraduates will not be able to enjoy the planned expansion of both Dillon Gymnasium and Stephen's Fitness Center.
"Even if we started today, the renovations would not be completed in five years," President Tilghman said at the meeting.
Some students also expressed concern over the space and time restrictions that Dillon places on club and intramural sports teams.
"Traditionally, intramural sports are for the entire general student body," Leach said. "That is the bread and butter of a campus recreation program, [but] we could rethink priorities [and] look to balance and find more time for sports clubs. We're defining sports clubs and realizing what direction Princeton University is going with sports programs."
As USG president-elect Rob Biederman '08 put it, "Intramural teams [have] more of an organizational problem, whereas clubs [have] more of a funding problem."
Other issues discussed at the meeting included the transportation expenses for sports teams, healthy food options in the recreational facilities, staffing shortages and immediate medical attention for injuries.
Leach emphasized that it will be crucial for students to collaborate with University officials to effect change. "[The] conversation doesn't end there," he said. "We're open to anything at anytime."
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