While I love the University of Scranton and the community that is here, I am frustrated with the same school I love. I am a senior, graduating in May with a strategic communications degree and a concentration in marketing. I understand how press works for the most part, and I have a better understanding of public relations.
The South Side Complex renovations at the University of Scranton is a great opportunity, and I can see the benefits as to why it should be undertaken. However, I do not think that stepping on other teams and people who already use that same complex is the way to go about the renovations.
People that know me know that an important part of my life and time at Scranton is the family I have found in rugby. It is a game I love and something I encourage others to both understand and love. It is unfortunate to me, then, that the University of Scranton has seemed to overlook the club teams that use the field now in their plans to develop South Side Complex.
When asked, people that we have talked to have seemed to brush off the rugby teams, saying you are being taken into account and it is all part of the bigger picture. However, this seems to be a way to disregard or not have to discuss big plans with the mere students that this so deeply impacts.
When looking at the plans for the South Side Complex, there are many benefits. A new field for the baseball and softball teams so they do not have to rent space anymore. A nice basketball court and playground for the people of the larger Scranton community to be able to use. And lastly, an amazing NCAA regulation field for sports. Those sports solely include: Men's and Women's Soccer, Women’s Field Hockey, and Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse. There are no rugby posts included, no lining on the field for the rugby team, nothing to indicate that the rugby team who is one of the teams currently using the field was taken into consideration.
The project is set to start in the summer, however, there have been rumors that it could start as early as March. There seems to be no one taking into consideration that both rugby teams still practice on that field in the spring. There has been little grounds keeping and certainly no security down near the field at this time but all will be fixed when the other teams are down on the new field. It certainly makes all involved feel as though their team is worthless or that other students are more valuable.
While I think the development of the South Side Complex is long over due, the frustration of being overlooked by a university who says they value community and yet seem to only look at ways to increase the number of students accepted to the University so they can get their tuition too. The fact that Women’s Rugby has a roster of 30 women and Men’s Rugby has a roster of 45 shows that we are just as big as other teams and that we have a significant impact on club sports involved at the University of Scranton. So while I love the University of Scranton, it has chosen to undervalue and seemingly disregard a sport that is dear to my heart and to those around me.
