The East-West University gym at 829 S. Wabash Ave. has become an important resource for Columbia’s student organizations. Several student-run clubs rely on the space for sports practices and other activities that give students an opportunity to socialize and build community outside the classroom.

After East-West raised its rental rates, the college shortened the gym hours and equally divided the remaining time so that each club had 90-minute practice slots.

The higher cost of renting the gym is a legitimate financial consideration at a time when the college is managing significant budget pressures.

But dividing the shorter hours equally doesn’t account for the different needs of the various student organizations.

Columbia lost access to the gym after 9 p.m. Student clubs previously shared two-hour practice slots until 10 p.m.

The Student Organization Council looked at the time slots in the gym with the least amount of sign-ins, which helped influence the decision to eliminate the last hour, as the Chronicle previously reported. 

Though SOC made an effort to offer time slots to each organization based on their availability, the new schedule isn’t fair to the clubs with bigger participation. 

Student organizations across campus are reporting larger turnouts this fall and greater participation from first-years. This adjustment to gym hours is going to make it harder to accommodate them.

One student told the Chronicle that the new 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. time slot will be hard for students who have class until 6:20 p.m. 

The 90-minute slots are also too short for clubs with larger groups of students or for those that need more preparation time. 

For example, the Cosmos Volleyball club needs time to set up and take down nets at the beginning and end of practice, which will further shorten their time playing volleyball.

Student organizations are not simply recreational extras. Club meetings are a space for students to network, make friends and de-stress throughout the school year. Those necessary hours for students to enjoy are now impacted by the shortened practice times. 

The college had to make a difficult budget decision. That should be acknowledged. But once the amount of available gym time was reduced, the next question should have been how to distribute that limited resource in a way that reflects the various needs of the students who depend on it.

Equity should mean taking everyone’s different needs into account.

Copy edited by Camila Verzino