Letter to the Editor: Honor Commitments

Dear Editors,
Intramurals (a welcome study break in the evenings) and student clubs and organizations (a voice for our beliefs, values, and passions) are a great benefit to our EMU community. In intramurals, we look forward to playing with our friends or meeting new teammates while getting in an hour of physical activity once or twice a week. Joining a club allows us to actively participate in a cause we feel passionate about. Clubs and organizations bring a plethora of events and activities to campus (and off-campus) which are fun, educational, and provide variety for our evenings and weekends.

Common in both intramurals and clubs is that joining either one requires a time commitment. In intramurals, we need to show up in order for a game to occur. For successful events and activities to take place, numerous hours need to be dedicated with our attendance at meetings. Without these time commitments, campus life would be dull and boring. Therefore, students, I challenge you to evaluate your commitment to that in which you are involved.

I am sick of forfeiting games. I am sick of playing 7v7 outdoor soccer with only five people (yes, I am a varsity athlete, but that does not mean that I can run forever). I am sick of attending or running meetings with only half the members showing up. It then falls on the president or leader of the club to track down those who missed the meeting(s) and relay the same information ten times over.

Students, here is my plea: In intramurals, show up for your games. The schedules are posted in the athletic hallway of the UC and online (under Rec Sports on the EMU Connection page). If you cannot make it to a game, contact your captain. Captains, if you do not have enough players for the game: be courteous and call the opposing team captain to declare the forfeit before the game.

For clubs and organizations, you - as a member - should be concerned enough to either contact your president or leader beforehand and follow-up with him/her within a day or two after the scheduled meeting. Also, when emails are sent out from your club requesting a reply, is it really that much of an inconvenience to hit the reply button, type a line or two and hit send?

Fellow students, I am not asking you to make intramurals or clubs your number one priority. Like me, many of you came to college for an education. I know there are situations and meetings that do conflict with a game or a club meeting. I am only asking you to be more considerate of your teammates and club leaders by picking up the phone or typing a quick email, which takes only seconds. Happy participating!

Joy Shaiebly