Bellarmine University’s new sand volleyball court, hidden behind the Siena Quarto residence hall complex, has produced varying opinions from students living on campus since its construction began. Despite mixed reactions, it appears that the sand volleyball court is an overall improvement to the campus. Photo by: Alena Schuckmann.
BY THE CONCORD STAFF
As summer has come to an end, campus life has been resumed. Returning students have moved back into their dorms, and incoming freshman have started to make their marks on campus. Change is in the air for our beloved university, but not all changes are necessarily as large as Centro. Over the summer, the Student Government Association began to make some changes around the residence halls, mainly in the Siena complex. As students continue to scramble for parking spots next to Terzo and Quarto, they may come across something new beyond the turnaround point. SGA installed a sand volleyball court right behind Siena Quarto.
The volleyball court has been a rather controversial topic on social media.
“I feel bad for who is living in SQ324 (and the entire back side of Quarto) in the fall. I’m sure they didn’t sign up knowing what was being put in. Great job Bellarmine, you’ve completely taken privacy away from your students,” Bellarmine student Austin Adam said on Facebook.
However, some returning students do not seem to mind the new addition to the Siena area, although many students didn’t seem to even know about it. Sophomore Quarto resident Jacoby Botts did not know about the existence of the court until he saw it from his bedroom window.
“I first heard about the volleyball court when I moved into my room for the first time. It was right across from my window. I was excited about the addition to campus because I enjoy volleyball and it’ll be interesting to play with friends,” Botts said.
Those who’ve complained on social media have brought up several negatives. Some claim that the money could’ve gone toward something different for the campus, while others claim that people will begin to grow frustrated with noise around the court could cause. As Botts said, the court is right outside his bedroom window, which could raise an issue with privacy.
However, people opposed to the court have said that there are no lights behind it, making it difficult for groups to play as it continues to get darker earlier. This strategy is smart simply because it eliminates a major sound issue.
Sophomore Terzo resident Jac Hinkle said that she has never seen anyone use the volleyball court.
“I’m not sure if many people will use it,” Hinkle said. “It’s very hidden. I didn’t even know about it.”
Hinkle argued it may have made more sense to place the court closer to the Sport, Recreation and Fitness Center.
The court has great potential to be a community-builder. With this new court at the campus’s disposal, it can create a community atmosphere among people who live across the campus. As students make the transition from freshmen to upperclassmen, Bellarmine begins to feel less like a tight-knit community. This becomes especially true when students are placed in one area but are separated by different buildings.
Freshmen who live in Kennedy and Newman have an advantage because they are linked together. In addition, finding friends in new residence halls may not be necessary for returning students because many are now more involved and have found their places at Bellarmine. The court has the potential to be used in a community-wide tournament, where every dorm building could participate, or even be used in the intramural sports program. As the weeks go by it is likely more students will use the court.
Regardless of the uncertainty of the effects of the volleyball court and the controversy that surrounds it, SGA brought something new to Bellarmine. The court may have some issue that need to be worked out, but improvements can easily be made. Bringing something new to the Siena area will bring together students who live in different buildings, creating a tighter community where it may be lacking on Bellarmine’s campus.