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Volume CXXXII, Number 22 |
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Intramural frustration
As Eric Goldwyn '03 suggests in his letter to the editor, the quality of intramural sports has declined significantly in the past year. The program has slipped drastically in its organizational skills and, consequently, greatly decreased opportunities for students.
According to the College website, "The Intramural Athletics program at Bowdoin College exists so that all members of the Bowdoin community, regardless of skill level or previous experience, can engage in friendly athletic competition among their peers." Due to scheduling inadequacies and general mismanagement, intramurals have failed to live up to their billing. Instead of offering friendly and regular competition, they have dished out frustration. The number of games has decreased to the point where IM resembles a doctor's waiting room more than anything else.
During the fall season, a soccer team that went 4-1 was denied the chance to play in the postseason. Why? The league office had evidently switched their record to 1-4. Opportunity denied. Although the intramural commissioner eventually recognized the mistake, it was too late to correct this oversight.
With no improvement between the fall and winter seasons, an undefeated A-league basketball team met the same fate. The league office mistakenly scheduled them for three, rather than four, games. After a grueling regular season, these ballers were denied a trip to the big dance. Opportunity denied.
Softball has always been the intramural stepchild, often left without equipment and an advisor. This spring has been especially weak, with constant cancellations and mismanagement. These errors are indicative of the systematic lack of respect for the athletes in the intramural ranks. It's unjustifiable that the league has fallen into such disrepair. As there are no other schools to coordinate with, it's difficult to understand how bases and bats cannot be provided, how records can be reversed, and how Bowdoin can expect a cohesive intramural athletic program without basic organization.
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