Columbia stopped paying the $60,000 rental fee for gym space at East-West University this fall because of budget cuts, a blow to the Renegades sports teams and clubs that have relied on these facilities.
For over a decade, students playing badminton, volleyball and soccer found a sense of belonging, purpose and community within the walls of that gym, which also was available to every Columbia student to use during certain open gym times. Students were excited after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in 2022, and they could start using the facilities again, as the Chronicle previously reported.
The news that Columbia students could no longer use the East-West gym came quietly in a short email buried in other updates. This budget cut feels like the latest in a series of disappointments for Columbia students, following the closure of the on-campus student Health Center.
Even worse, Columbia’s own equipment is still locked away in the East-West gym, unusable for the teams that rely on it. Without access, sports like volleyball and badminton have been left on hold entirely, with no clear path forward. Some teams, like the Renegades volleyball team, haven’t even been able to meet this semester.
This cut extends beyond just a gym; it’s an attack on student life. As students, we know that Columbia prides itself on promoting creative collaboration, but where is that same dedication when it comes to supporting physical health, teamwork and a sense of community through sports?
How could the administration justify such a sudden cut without offering a backup plan?
There is, however, a potential solution. The Student Center, our shiny hub, has plenty of empty spaces during off-hours that could easily be adapted for sports practice. Why not convert underused areas into multi-purpose sports spaces? It wouldn’t replace the full gym experience, but it would give our teams and clubs a home while we navigate this budget crisis. It’s time to think creatively, just as we do in our classrooms and art studios.
As students, we deserve transparency and involvement in decisions that affect our extracurricular lives. Sports, while not a core part of Columbia’s identity like at NCAA schools, still matter to those who participate and to the college’s core values. They offer a much-needed outlet, a place to belong and an opportunity to take a break from the pressures of academic life. Columbia cannot keep brushing these experiences aside in the name of budget cuts.
The Student Organization Council needs to advocate more forcefully in these conversations. A long-term solution is necessary, but in the short term, using the spaces we already have at the Student Center would show at least some willingness from the administration to meet us halfway.
We need a school that doesn’t just talk about community but invests in it whether through art, media, and yes, even sports. After all, without spaces for all students to thrive, what’s the point of community at all?
Copy edited by Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez
