2008 Woodie Awards
Storm Harbor should translate into better team
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Rocket Letters
To the Editor:
Does anyone wonder about our new Storm Harbor Equestrian Center? If you picked up a copy of The Rock Magazine, you would have read a nice two-page spread on the structure and its intent. Before I continue, let me say that I am by no means biased against Therapeutic Recreation (I am a Parks and Rec major), especially for the handicapped. With that out of the way, I would like to point out that we have this multi-million dollar complex, located on campus, and yet we have an equestrian team that has to travel to New Wilmington, Pa (10 miles past the Outlets) and take lessons with the Westminster Equestrian team. Does something not sound right? Why are we sending students roughly 20 miles away to practice with a competing school?
Right now there are currently 28 students on our Equestrian team, and I cannot think of a better group of students to take care of the center and horses. Why should you care? You should care because the Slippery Rock Equestrian team is exceptional: one member made it to regionals, being held this spring, many members who have never competed before are taking home ribbons at the majority of competitions, and the team ranks #1 among smaller schools such as Westminster, Allegheny, and Edinboro, only being ousted by larger teams such as Duquesne, WVU, and Bethany. It was rumored that Dr. Rizza, who donated the money for the center, intended the Equestrian Team to be involved with Storm Harbor, yet the team has to travel in order to have lessons. There are even emails being received by the team captain by prospective students who are excited to hear that they can join a team that rides at our new equestrian center, only to find out that they have been misinformed about its intent. If the team were able to have lessons at Storm Harbor, they could have their own coach, and not have to vie for time with the Westminster coach, which they are doing now. Like I said, I do not want to take anything away from Therapeutic Recreation, or the charitable intent of Storm Harbor, but why not harbor an exceptional team that has the capability and experience to fulfill the potential of this multi-million dollar complex?
Jeremy Kierski
Senior
Parks and Recreation/Environmental
Education major
Does anyone wonder about our new Storm Harbor Equestrian Center? If you picked up a copy of The Rock Magazine, you would have read a nice two-page spread on the structure and its intent. Before I continue, let me say that I am by no means biased against Therapeutic Recreation (I am a Parks and Rec major), especially for the handicapped. With that out of the way, I would like to point out that we have this multi-million dollar complex, located on campus, and yet we have an equestrian team that has to travel to New Wilmington, Pa (10 miles past the Outlets) and take lessons with the Westminster Equestrian team. Does something not sound right? Why are we sending students roughly 20 miles away to practice with a competing school?
Right now there are currently 28 students on our Equestrian team, and I cannot think of a better group of students to take care of the center and horses. Why should you care? You should care because the Slippery Rock Equestrian team is exceptional: one member made it to regionals, being held this spring, many members who have never competed before are taking home ribbons at the majority of competitions, and the team ranks #1 among smaller schools such as Westminster, Allegheny, and Edinboro, only being ousted by larger teams such as Duquesne, WVU, and Bethany. It was rumored that Dr. Rizza, who donated the money for the center, intended the Equestrian Team to be involved with Storm Harbor, yet the team has to travel in order to have lessons. There are even emails being received by the team captain by prospective students who are excited to hear that they can join a team that rides at our new equestrian center, only to find out that they have been misinformed about its intent. If the team were able to have lessons at Storm Harbor, they could have their own coach, and not have to vie for time with the Westminster coach, which they are doing now. Like I said, I do not want to take anything away from Therapeutic Recreation, or the charitable intent of Storm Harbor, but why not harbor an exceptional team that has the capability and experience to fulfill the potential of this multi-million dollar complex?
Jeremy Kierski
Senior
Parks and Recreation/Environmental
Education major
