[New] Intramurals vs. extramurals: Why can’t we have both?

Amanda Blake Managing Editor

If you were to search “benefits of competitive sports” online, you would find dozens of articles on child development, perhaps a few on high school athletics. The issue I’m addressing, however, involves a question that was asked during last semester’s Student Association Town Hall: “Why doesn’t Southern have a competitive sports team?”

President Shaw gave an excellent answer. Southern, he said, has a great intramurals program. True. I’ve been participating in the program for two years; it’s organized, offers a wide variety of sports and, most importantly, is a lot of fun. Shaw added that over half of Southern’s students are involved in the program, allowing them to grow physically and mentally.

Finally, Shaw said introducing extramural sports to a college campus often decreases the quality of the school’s intramurals program and focuses attention on the few students on the competitive team instead of spreading the attention among everyone involved in athletics. Thus, Southern’s current sports program is most beneficial to the university.

I, however, believe our campus would benefit even more from a sports program including intramurals and extramurals, increasing the university’s community interaction and school spirit.

I have long thought that sports have been underutilized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church as ways to witness. I grew up Adventist, which meant, as many read- ers will likely understand, music has always been a part of my life, sometimes against my will. Don’t get me wrong — I’ve made a plethora of great memories in music groups and gotten my fair share of goosebumps from praising God through music, one of His most unique creations.

At certain times, however, I felt like all my church and school really wanted from me, the only thing they valued, was music. They didn’t care that I connected more with people on the field than I did on a stage, or that praying with and challenging my teammates on the court brought me closer to God than band practice.

I am not saying that Southern values its music program more than its sports program, but perhaps it is this mindset so prevalent in Adventist society, the opinion that sports cannot play a role in shining our light before others, that is holding the university back from starting extramurals.

If Southern had competitive sports teams, students would travel to schools throughout the state. An increasing number of people would learn about our little Adventist university. , a And if the same Biblical principles were applied to coaching the teams that are used in other extracurricular activities on campus, I have no doubt that those people would notice a difference in our players. I know from experience that putting God first in sports while playing your best is something that stands out; the crowd can see the difference.

I am sure that it takes a