It's 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon. For most of the approximately 300 who are not only students but also varisity athletes at Brandeis Univeristy, it means time to practice. The only problem is space.The men's basketball team already has dibs on the main basketball court. Softball and baseball both need to get some workouts in, so the softball team is throwing on the track circling the basketball court. No more than 25 feet away, baseball players are taking hits in the school's mesh netted batting cage. No more than 10 feet to the left of the cage, the Indoor Track & Field team is running hurdles.

Outside on Gordon Field, the same theme repeats itself while the men's and women's soccer team are sharing the field.

It's such a simple problem, but the solution is anything but simple. At a school making genuine and visible efforts to improve the athletic experience, the most significant problem for student athletes of any kind is the lack of adequate facilities and space.

The facilities problem is not unique to athletes on varsity teams. Whether it be participants in club sports, intramural sports or even the student who only works out every few weeks, finding adequate space and satisfactory equipment can be an issue. While Gosman's Red Auerbach Arena (formerly a frequent practice spot for the Boston Celtics) is a quality facility, the same cannot be said about the school's outdoor and other facilities.

Gordon field is ten yards too short and ten yards too narrow for regulation soccer. There are divits and ruts all over it. The ashphalt track that circles the soccer field is hardly a friendly running surface. The conditions on the field have even led men's soccer Coach Mike Coven to say he would rather the team play all of its home games away at nicer fields.

With both soccer team's vying for the limited space on Gordon Field, grass is hard to come by for club and intramural sports. Chapel's Field seems to be the most commonly used alternative for those athletes not on a varsity team. It is hardly the ideal venue.

The field is too small for regulation play of any kind, and the field stretches into patches of dirt and rock near the path toward the library. Also used is the field directly adjacent to the commuter rail line that crosses South Street. The field is actually quite long, but those running out of bounds are in danger of colliding into the fence that separates the field from the rail tracks.

The biggest problem is not the size or quality of these fields, however. Rather it is simply that there are too many people to be accommodated. Director of Recreation/Club/IM Sports Tom Rand is the person with the thankless job of divying outdoor practice space to 12 club sport teams. It is not an easy job, and no matter what, teams will always be short of practice space. Rand's job is even harder with the constant requests from student groups and other organizations for field space.

The problem is visible even to those not involved in organized athletics in any way. One who wishes to play pick up basketball in Shapiro Gym must be sure to check the schedule as basketball and volleyball practices take up the space almost every day when in season. A student who wants to lift weights will have to encounter rustic machines and at times a daunting search for matching dumbells.

Despite problems with all the facilites, progress is visible. The gym is open later hours during the week this year, allowing intramural and club sports more practice time. Long term plans are underway to redo the floor and buy new machines for the weight room. The hire of Rand has already led to a more organized and enjoyble intramural experience.

In encountering the inevitable struggles athletes will face at Brandeis, it is important to recognize the rightful place of athletics at Brandeis. The school's academic reputation is and always will be what defines the school. That does not mean that any student cannot have a positive time in Brandeis athletics. It is simply up to the student to make his or her own athletic experience.