Better facilities, communication needed to safeguard campus reputation
Picture this scenario: you’ve just finished a physical education class in the gym and your next shift at work starts in about an hour. You’re sweaty and probably a little smelly – no way to show up in front of customers. A quick shower would be great, but your only option is the one you have at home, which is at least 20 minutes in the opposite direction of work. If only the showers in the gym locker room weren’t dysfunctional.
Sadly, that’s the reality for CSUDH students and student-athletes. For the past two years, Toros have been unable to use the shower facilities on campus. They’ve been out of order for so long, the showerheads probably have cobwebs. As an assistant coach in the Toros Athletics department, I have to say, this is not only unacceptable but a bad look for our school.
Putting the fundamental issue of basic hygiene aside, our student-athletes represent Dominguez Hills on and off the field with integrity. They work incredibly hard during practices and in games, but the lack of proper shower facilities is inconsiderate of the time and effort they put in for the Toro Nation. Plus, it makes us look bad to the student-athletes from the schools we host throughout the year.
Working showers is a necessity in any athletic facility, especially at the collegiate level. That CSUDH cannot even provide that to visiting teams, let alone its own student-athletes, is potentially damaging to our reputation.
That said, there have been efforts recently to renovate the locker room facilities. But there’s been a lack of communication between departments with regard to construction. Some Toros Athletics staff members weren’t even aware renovations were underway or how extensive they would be.
“No one has told us anything –try to go in there now, it’s impossible to be in there unless you want to go deaf,” said a Toro Athletics staff member, who spoke to me on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak on the issue. This raises questions about how this project is being managed and coordinated within the university.
Construction was noisy and often restricted access to the locker rooms, the athletic training room. disrupting daily routines and practices for student-athletes. Tar used during construction resulted in a strong smell and heavy white smoke to take over the locker rooms. I think it’s safe to say our students and student-athletes shouldn’t be exposed to or inhaling these fumes, which could cause or exacerbate respiratory issues.
It’s a reasonable expectation that aging facilities will have their share of issues – and hey, you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, right? But it’s also a reasonable expectation for athletes not to have to endure the stench of their own sweat after putting in hours on the court.
It is essential for the university to uphold its commitment to providing a safe and hygienic environment for everyone on campus, and to be transparent and responsive to concerns raised by the community. Such conditions reflect poorly on the university and challenges its commitment to providing a safe and comfortable environment for its students and student-athletes.
We all know athletics are one of the most intriguing parts of the campus experience at Dominguez Hills, but with such subpar facilities on site and so-so communication about when and how they’ll be repaired, Toro students and athletes will be smelling the agony of their feet a lot more than success.
