Social equality and university-wide recognition will always be an issue that will trouble collegiate athletics. Either an individual, a team, or a particular sport, always seems to get the short end of the stick.  

In regards to Ashland University, there is plenty of controversy from students about why certain sports don’t seem to get the recognition that many feel they deserve.  From having the No.1 ranked track program in the country, to the softball team who won 17 of their first 18 games this season, there are a few teams that don’t really get the school-wide recognition that they deserve.  While this problem may take time to solve, I feel there is a short-term solution to help level the playing fields, literally.

When it comes to AU softball, many students on campus do not realize where the softball team plays its home games at.  While this is due in large part to the fact that many students have never been to an AU softball game, many simply do not know.  

While the football team plays at a beautiful, multi-million dollar Dwight Schar Athletic Complex, and the basketball teams play at the recently renovated Kates Gymnasium, softball doesn’t have it so nice.  Even baseball has a very well-kept facility, located within a reasonable walk from campus.  Unfortunately, and for some unforeseen reason, AU softball has been designated to play its home games at a public park. 

AU softball, the same team that is currently 25-5, plays its home games at the softball fields at the Ashland City public park on Brookside Drive, nearly a 15-minute drive away from campus.

The university hardly even acknowledges where the softball team plays its home games.  A prime example of this comes from the AU athletic page, goashlandeagles.com.  If you scroll to the page titled “facilities,” you will see pictures of various sports venues on the AU campus.  Only two sports don’t have pictures of their venues.  Those two sports are golf and softball.

The current situation surrounding the softball team and where they play their home games is something the university needs to address.  While the development of a proper facility is something that will take time, it needs to happen.  Every other sport on campus seems to have a well-kept place to call “home,” except softball.  Certain sports, like football, even have state-of-the-art facilities, like the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex.

For a softball team, I would imagine that it’s hard to call a field “home” when you can’t stand in the dugouts because of how much water makes its way into onto the field and into the dugout.  In my opinion, the muddy mess that the softball team calls “home,” isn’t acceptable and needs to change.

While I hate to be the guy that bashes the current venue the softball team plays its home games at, I believe it’s a big enough issue to address.  Collegiate athletes often have it much harder than your typical student, myself included.  They have to balance class and other events on top of a hectic sporting schedule, which includes games and practices.  So when it comes to doing the thing they came to college for, there should be a proper environment for them to hone their skills as a collegiate athlete. 

If AU’s motto truly is “Accent on the Individual,” then I believe the university should stand by it.  Don’t give one sport something that you can’t give another, just because you can make more money off the more popular sport.  While I realize softball at AU doesn’t draw the money and popularity that football does, that is no excuse to shun the softball team to Brookside Park.  The university should stand by all its sports, not just the ones they profit from.  Let’s give credit where credit is due.  Maybe it’s time for the athletic department and the university to step up and give softball a place they can call “home.”