The long-standing rule prohibiting student-athletes from moving their cars before practice is currently the object of much criticism. With the arrival of the spring sports season, the administration has been reminding student athletes that they are not allowed to move their cars at the end of the school day, resulting in several detentions for many who have moved their cars to their respective practice areas. The form deans have been enforcing the rule as a safety regulation. Cheryl McLauchlan, III Form Dean, said that “safety is the first concern” because “there are more cars and kids around” as Upper School sports practices coincide with dismissals for the Lower and Middle School. She also said that it is for “practical reasons. When there are games there is nowhere to park. Then someone’s 90 year old grandmother has to walk from the campus center lot, but [the reason] is really safety.” Justin Brandon, VI Form Dean added to this by saying that when there are no parking spaces left near the baseball fields, “families park on 252, which is illegal and so they are given tickets. It is not welcoming.” Brandon also said that students are not permitted to leave during free periods or domino block and then come back for practice and park in spaces other than the Campus Center parking lot. Students, particularly those on the baseball and softball teams, would like to be allowed to drive to practice, given the fact that their fields are located farther away than the others. These athletes must walk across campus to their fields, often while carrying heavy equipment. Sean O’Reilly ’12, who was given a detention for moving his car, said, “They have given us no tangible reason to [not] park there.” To counter the administration’s arguments against parking spaces and safety he said that the baseball team would drive to the fields via 252 to avoid cutting through the campus, and that the team would be willing to park on the service road to leave the baseball field parking lot open. Tim Longen ’12 said that the athletes should be allowed to drive to the field when there are not games, but concedes that if there are games taking place they would not move their cars so as to not take parking spaces from spectators. To avoid the long walk, Longen and Bill Kacergis ’12 have started riding bikes to the field instead. Brandon said, “We have to talk about that [the bikes], it may not be safe because of the traffic.” V Form Dean, Sarah Perkins, said, “The reasons why there is a policy regarding driving from the end of the school day until sports practices are twofold.” First, it is a safety concern. Driving to the fields in the middle of the day “invites disaster to have young and inexperienced drivers rushing when here are young people roaming free,” said Perkins. She said that the administration does not mind seniors having use of their vehicles during the day, citing senior privileges. During this time, Lower and Middle school students are supervised and contained so there is no safety concern. The other problem is visitor parking. It is much more convenient for athletes to take spectators’ parking spots, and if the students are allowed to park in convenient spots, they would do so en masse. Perkins said that the administration will consider a team proposal to coordinate official transportation, such as a coach driving a van with students to the practice location. She said that a similar situation is already occurring, as the crew team is provided transportation to the Schuylkill River for practice. However, Perkins said the administration will not consider any proposal that allows students to drive their own cars to the practice fields. O’Reilly has made plans to take a proposal to Student Council that requests the privilege to move their cars be granted for the baseball players. Brandon commends O’Reilly; “I think Sean is doing the right thing by going through the system. It is a good conversation to have.”

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