Allow students to use outdoor facilties year round, don't lock us out!
Graduate students and summer school students usually spend all summer at campus and continue to pay rec fees. However, we are banned from going on the fields or even using the tennis courts. I have even contacted John Howard about using the tennis courts and was told to fill out forms to reserve the courts. Upon filling out the forms he then told me the courts were closed due to safety reasons. This was obviously just an excuse for him to not do his jobs. I have also tried to reserve fields in the past for flag football games during the summer and never even got a response.
The policy on this needs to change. Why lock up and keep students out of facilities they pay for during the summer when they can be used the most? After talking to other sporting enthusiasts who have encountered John Howard I have concluded he is the biggest piece of crap on campus and needs to go. Email thread with him attached.

USG talked with Rob Thompson, the director of REC sports and John Howard about this issue. Apparently, there is a new online facility request system. John assures that this system will help students connect to outdoor facilities in an easier way.
Also, the tennis courts are planned to have extensive repairs this spring/summer.
-USG
UPDATE
That new online facility reques website is: events.mines.edu
-USG
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Zack commented
He prevented me from using the courts after filling out that stupid form because the courts were too unsafe... then allows people to use the courts for another 2 years? That doesn't make sense John is the biggest lying sack of shit. How about we just use the courts when we want to? Why put a lock on them at all?
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Geoffrey Horn commented
In addition to the tennis courts, unlocking the soccer nets so that we can actually play would be great. It is ludicrous that other school have multiple fields to go and play on at any time, lined and well-kept, and we have absolutely nothing.
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Anonymous commented
I totally agree. I have tried to get on the tennis courts during school year even (I'm on the club team) by filling out the forms and I was ignored several times and then told I would not be allowed on as they didn't want to send somebody down to unlock the gates and check blaster cards for me
Also, as someone on the club team, those courts are horrible. But a few years ago the school said they would sooner pay and pave a parking lot than resurfacing the courts so there's no way to approach the school about this . It's ridiculous that they are so terrible.