Pool tables get removed to uphold policy
Due to security issues, two of the eight pool tables in the Nelson Fieldhouse are no longer accessible, and some students taking a billiards class have started a petition to keep the tables open for use.
Two of the petitioners are Chris Crooke, junior and treasurer of the billiards club and Cameron Copeland, a student enrolled in billiards.
Crooke and Copeland used the now-restricted pool tables the week before the semester started and then a few days into the semester, they found the doors locked.
With 97 students in the billiards club and 324 students enrolled in billiards’ 19 class sections, Copeland said he is concerned it will not be possible to accommodate all those who want to be involved. He said it is especially unfair to those enrolled in the class, who paid a $50 fee to participate.
“I’ve definitely seen the overcrowding. I am there most of the day and the vast majority of the beginners classes are way too full,” Crooke said.
Kevin Kobe, campus recreation director, said: “On our end, this must be done because the university is following PCI compliance, which means that areas with computers used for credit card transactions have to be secured.”
The area where the two restricted pool tables are located was bringing students into an area that should have been secured. In addition to this issue, Kobe said office space is in demand for the campus recreation department, so removing the pool tables will vacate space that may be used for that need.
James Morales, vice president of student services, said the tables will most likely be moved into a campus housing facility so they may be utilized. He said he believes the billiards instructors could potentially move their classes in order to access the relocated pool tables. However, petitioners such as Crooke said they do not see this being efficient.
“If they put the pool tables in housing, it will be away from class, and that isn’t going to help the class at all,” Crooke said. “We do understand the rules, we’ve heard about them, and it’s a valid reason to move the tables. We just don’t like that they took them without letting anybody know.”
The students petitioning against this change believe there is a more accommodating way to relocate the tables, such as rearrange the room the pool tables are in, or find another location in the Fieldhouse for them.
PCI officers will allow one to two months for campus recreation to comply with the security policy. In addition to securing the area where the pool tables will be removed, all recreation equipment will be issued through a window, rather than students walking into the room to check out the items.
–catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu