Author: Marjorie Camarda
The Occidental website makes a proud claim to “athletic excellence.” At any given place on campus, athletes are seen walking to and from practices and games. But many students and coaches in the athletic department feel Oxy has fallen behind the other SCIAC schools in providing adequate athletic facilites. They have come to question Oxy’s claim of having a “thriving program.”
These coaches and students see the new presidency and change in administration as a perfect chance to fix these problems with athletics, some of which are beginning to be addressed.
Basketball Head Coach Brian Newhall has no difficulty providing examples of significan problems with the athletic facilites.
“If you added up all facilities at all schools [in the SCIAC], we would rank eight out of eight,” Newhall said.
Football Head Coach Dale Widolff agrees that there is much room for improvement, citing examples of repairs that have been put off for decades. Such delays would not be acceptable anywhere else on campus, Widolff said.
Due partly to these continued complaints, several projects have been planned in the near future. A donation of over $1 million has enabled Oxy to start for planning for a new 50-meter pool, twice the size of the current one. Also receiving a makeover are the tennis courts, which are in the midst of a three-step improvement project.
The first phase, which included resurfacing the courts and installing new windscreens, is now complete. New seating will be added very soon and two additional courts will also be contructed, enabling Oxy to host tennis matches on campus.
Many students complain that Oxy is lacking in space for facilities, but most acknowledge it is an issue that is nearly impossible to improve in an urban setting. Before contemplating where to build new failities, it is only logical to make sure Oxy is properly maintaining what it already has, something Widolff doesn’t see currently happening.
Recently the football field was resurfaced with what Widolff described as “A+ turf,” making it accessible to any sport at any time of the year. This is one of the best decisions the Oxy Athletics Department has made, and similar projects should be considered to make use of the space that is available, he said.
“President Mitchell and Vice President Hewitt were not willing to make the necessary investment in the […] recreational and athletic facilites, causing us to fall further and further behind top liberal arts colleges,” Widolff said.
Despite the criticism, there is sitll hope for improvement. Widolff hopes Oxy will begin to move in the right direction if the new administration gives athletics the attention it deserves.
Director of Athletics Dixon Farmer is also optimistic about finding solutions. While he said problems do exist, such as lack of room for spectators at the soccer field and general wear and tear at Rush Gym, there are donors to the school who care very much about student athletes and with luck they will provde the funds to make some of the changes needed. One of his visions that could be accomplished throught these means is the construction of a “park-like atmosphere” at the soccer fields, where fans could lounge during matches.
“We have the best fans in the conference,” Newhall said. “No one wants to come to the ‘Black Hole’ to play.” Now we only need the facilites to match their enthusiasm.
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