Water polo takes over Malley

By Robert Philbrook

With the sun still shining, the first few weeks of school are an excellent time to hang out by the pool and enjoy the waning summer heat. First year students will quickly realize that with only two or three hours of class a day, there is ample time in the afternoon for various forms of tomfoolery. The Malley pool is the one-stop place to fill that void by socializing, cooling off, getting a tan and exercising. That depends, however, on when we are allowed to use the pool.

The pool is open from 6:30 a.m. until 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For most of us casual swimmers, we want to use the pool during the afternoon, when class is over and the sun is out. It's difficult to get a tan after the sun goes down, and there is nobody to chat with in the mornings. The afternoon is unquestionably the prime time.

But on certain days of the week, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m., a select group that makes up half of one percent of the undergraduate student population claims almost sole possession of our beloved Malley pool.

Who decided that men's water polo practice has priority to the pool during peak afternoon hours? The choice was obviously not left up to students.

The Malley pool was not designed with water polo in mind. For regulations, it is 10 meters short for men and 5 meters short for women. Neither team can host tournaments due to our pool's awkward size. Keith Wilbur, coach of the men's team, said he prefers to hold practice at Bellarmine High School whenever he can because they have a regulation-sized pool.

So, if the pool is too small for water polo and the demand for wholesome afternoon diversions is high, why don't we, the non-water polo playing student majority, get priority use of the pool?

Some might say it's a matter of school spirit. We should be proud to support Santa Clara athletics. But unfortunately, it is easier to support teams with their own facilities. I might have a little more animosity towards the basketball team if it kicked me out of Malley everyday to practice. And just imagine the travesty if your friends couldn't hold intramural softball practice because the baseball team had priority use of Bellomy field. These teams have their own facilities, and aren't forced to share.

Supporting athletics involves going to games, but the water polo team is difficult to support. With only three scheduled home water polo matches this year, how are we supposed to appreciate the results of our sacrifice? We give up our last chance for a tan and a great way to make friends so they can play away games every weekend? I feel so used.

Even if you are against athletics in general, at least baseball, basketball and soccer charge for tickets. Regardless of their profits, at least those teams are attempting to create the illusion that they are not a total drain on the yearly budget.

I am not completely against men's water polo by any means. But, I am very much in favor of being able to use the pool on sunny afternoons. This is a year-round problem (yes, they hold afternoon practice in the spring, too). It must be addressed as an issue of fairness towards the vast majority of the student population who does not play water polo.

Does the school want us to have safe and sober afternoon diversions at the pool? If we have a water polo team, why don't we have a separate regulation-sized pool for their games and practices? Basketball, soccer and baseball all have their own facilities. And if we must share a pool, why does men's water polo, by far the minority partner in this deal, get the best hours?

Voice your concerns to the Athletic Department and tell them to either build a new pool for the water polo team or make them practice in the morning.

Bobby Philbrook is a junior history major.