By Maya Liquigan

Columbia sports teams and clubs returned to East-West University for practice this week after the college signed a letter of intent to rent the facilities again. 

The students lost access at the start of the semester because of budget cuts, as the Chronicle previously reported. 

Kristi Beltran, the director of Student Engagement and Leadership, said that the letter of intent was signed on Nov. 12 and students gained access on Nov. 18. Afterwards, the Student Organization Council connected with the Renegades sports teams and clubs before sending out an email to reserve a space at East-West. 

The tentative deal with East-West also allows Columbia students to access the gym during the 15 open gym hours throughout the week, which is less than before when students had access to 23 hours per week. 

Beltran said she was excited for students to have East-West back as a student space. 

“Athletics are incredibly valuable and unique to Columbia and are a vital part of many students’ sense of belonging here,” she said. “The ability to have a space for these groups to convene is so important, especially as the weather gets colder and playing in the local park spaces is no longer an option.”

Interim President and CEO Jerry Tarrer said a deal was being negotiated during a pre-recorded interview last week for WCRX’s Holly Jolly Fundraiser, as the Chronicle previously reported. He told the Chronicle that he expected a contract to be finalized by early January.

Across the street from the Student Center, around 20 students joined the Renegades Volleyball team at East-West University for the first practice this semester on Monday, Nov. 25.

Genevie Triplett, the vice president of the volleyball team, said that throughout this semester she felt “hopeless” with no clear solution and only two weeks left of the semester. 

“It was one thing where I could actually go and get out and do exercise with people that I knew and had fun with,” she said. “And then I just didn’t have that anymore.”

Triplett said that she did not expect so many students to show up to the impromptu practice. 

Throughout the two hours of practice, the team warmed up with basic passing drills, receiving lines and serving practice. The group included all levels of experience with some people dressed in jeans while others were in sportswear and knee pads. 

Kayleigh McReynolds, a junior ASL-English Interpretation major, said this was her first time practicing with the Renegades. She said she has been playing volleyball since seventh grade and felt satisfied being back on the court as she felt the sting of her hand on the ball during hitting drills. 

“Lately I feel like the time is changing and it’s darker sooner, I just wanted to get out,” McReynolds said. “I feel so cooped up, so it was a good way to get out and move my body.

McReynolds brought her roommates, Yasmin Legg, a transfer junior theatre major, and Nya Pric, a first-year interior architecture major, to the volleyball practice. Although they both are not extremely passionate about the sport, they said it was a great opportunity for students to meet new people and participate in things outside of school. 

“I feel like this is an age group where if you want to continue your hobbies, it’s a good time to do it,” Legg said. “Also, if you’re passionate about it, but it’s not something you want to do as a career, then there’s something nice here as well.” 

Ava Martinez, a senior fashion merchandising major, said that volleyball has always been a big part of her life and she has been playing since sixth grade. She has been on the Renegades Volleyball team since sophomore year. 

She said that she is not a huge fan of going to the gym to work out and would rather use volleyball as an outlet to be active. As she threw the ball up to serve and felt the weight of it in her palm as her arm swung down, she said she released the stress that has built up throughout the semester. 

“I serve really hard because I’m really angry about a lot of stuff and it feels really good,” Martinez said. 

Martinez is graduating this semester and was ecstatic to be back on a court before she left Columbia. She said she saw this as a big win, “sports are really, really important and I think they made a good decision deciding to let us practice here again.” 

The Renegades Soccer team held their first indoor practice from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. after the volleyball team. Zane Kazor, the president of the soccer team, said that he was relieved to hear about East-West, especially after Chicago got its first snow.

“I’m glad that we didn’t have to pay this time around,” he said. “And it definitely beats playing out in the cold.” 

Five students attended the first indoor soccer practice that was not held on their usual practice dates. Kazor said that he hopes the access to East-West’s gym will help the turnout before the competitive season begins next semester.

Paige Johnson, president of the SOC and a senior creative writing major, said the council will work with Columbia’s sports teams to assist them with tournament registrations and secure more game opportunities. 

As the volleyball team began to take down the net to allow the soccer team to set up, Uriel Centeno, a junior creative writing major and member of the volleyball team, was bouncing in the hallway with post-practice adrenaline. He said he remembers feeling devastated when the team first lost access to the gym. 

“It honestly just felt like a bullet to my heart, I was like ‘No, there’s no way we’re not playing,” Centeno said. 

He said that he first started playing volleyball to help cope with his mental health struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic. When he was notified that practice was scheduled, he said “it felt like I fell in love with volleyball all over again.” 

His face glowed as he played in the scrimmage for the last 20 minutes of practice. He said it was extremely important for students to have access to spaces for student clubs to build community outside of school. 

“I think just in general, not even just this space, students just need a relief,” he said. “Academics get in the way. We get really stressed. We get really anxious with graduation. We need some kind of release.”

Los equipos y clubes deportivos de Columbia recuperaron el acceso a las instalaciones del gimnasio de la Universidad East-West esta semana después de que una carta de intención se firmó el 12 de noviembre, permitiendo a los estudiantes practicar de nuevo a partir del 18 de noviembre.  

Ava Martinez, una estudiante de último año de mercadeo de moda, ha sido parte del equipo de Renegades Volleyball desde su segundo año y se gradúa este semestre. Ella estaba emocionada de estar de vuelta en una cancha antes de graduarse. Martínez dijo que veía esto como una gran victoria, “El deporte es muy, muy importante y creo que tomaron una buena decisión al decidir dejarnos practicar aquí de nuevo.”

El acuerdo con East-West también proporciona a los estudiantes un número limitado de horas de gimnasio abierto, de 23 a 15 por semana, pero es un paso crucial para restaurar la tan necesaria actividad física y las oportunidades de formar comunidad para estudiantes como Martínez y sus compañeros de equipo.