I’ve been thinking recently about Andrus Field and about which sports teams we get to cheer on in that most central of locations between Usdan, Olin Library and Foss Hill. And I’ve realized that we only have two options, and they’re both men’s teams. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed cheering on Wes football from the terraced steps behind Olin, and watching the baseball team step up to bat. I just don’t understand why our options are so limited.
We’ve got some pretty great sports teams at the University— soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, softball, etc. We’ve also got impressive, dedicated female athletes and, to be honest, I would probably know more about our women’s teams if they got to play in a more central location. I think it would be awesome if, at the very least, our more successful teams had their playoff games front and center on Andrus. And, of course, there are some pretty great club teams that would love the exposure and the support of our fellow students (for example, Wesrugby. We’ve got a game on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Long Lane fields—come cheer us on!) I hear a lot of people complain about the lack of support for sports teams on this campus. Maybe if we stopped hiding our awesome fall and spring sports teams behind Freeman, Wesleyan students could muster some more school spirit.
Last semester, Wesrugby played at Western Connecticut State University in its sports stadium. The field we played on had lines drawn for soccer, lacrosse and rugby. It isn’t a practical matter to make field lines that cater to many sports. It’s a matter of which teams Wesleyan prioritizes. It would be great if more team—especially more women’s teams—could share center stage.
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