Tangents & Tirades

by The Cowl Editor on October 3, 2019


Opinion


Intramurals to Club:  Where is the Middle Ground?

Looking to get more involved on campus in the excitement of the new school year? Maybe pick up a sport you dropped after high school? Students are often encouraged to join club or intramural teams, but it is not that simple. 

The gap between club and intramural sports here at Providence College is keeping both the experienced from playing at a competitive level and the inexperienced from trying something new without risking injury. 

Committing to playing a club sport includes tryouts, off-season training, weekly traveling to compete against other schools, and national tournaments. PC has even recruited high school athletes for their club programs. As club sports reflect the characteristics of Division I athletics more and more, I cannot help but be skeptical of the level down, intramurals.

In contrast, intramural teams are formed based on sign-ups and are granted only a handful of games in the span of their short-lived seasons. Perfect for the freshman who is looking to try something new, but not for the four-season-high-school-varsity-athlete who would rather spend weekends with their friends than travel hours for away games.

How will this gap be bridged? It seems out of reach for the former high school athlete to continue their hobby without sacrificing all of their time as this gap between intramurals and club sports widens. For me, I’ll stick with The Cowl.

—Margaret Scales  ’23

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

 

SodexNo

Providence College’s dining service, Sodexo, has taken a lot of heat lately.  People simply do not like the food and have issues with its variety.  There is no shortage of complaints on campus about PC’s food options and its quality. Aside from all this, one thing is clear: Sodexo is not a reliable nor healthy food service. 

First off, the menus posted online are not always true to what is actually being served.  Many students claim they have gone to Raymond Dining Hall on a particular day due to the meal advertised on the menu.  Upon arrival, they realize Ray is definitely not serving what they claimed. Simultaneously, they lose a meal swipe, and their appetite.

Secondly, healthy options are sparse in both Alumni and Ray unless you would like to pay.  True, there is the salad bar in Ray; however, a healthy, balanced, and quality meal expands far beyond “leaves, seeds, and twigs,” as my friends lovingly refer to the protein-deficient salads they eat daily.  Plus, the Alumni salad bar, which is hardly better in content, requires Friarbucks or real money. Ultimately, serving high-carb, unhealthy meals such as burgers, pizza, and chicken patties does not make sense. 

 Considering the knowledgeable and health-conscience society we live in, as well as our tuition, the dining services here are a mystery.  

—Olivia Bretzman ’22

Photo courtesy of GoodFreePhotos.