"Ladies Night":
Gym becomes "women only" two nights a week
By Josh Snow

In an effort to heighten female interest in intramural sports and participation in the athletic department, Mark Cassarino, director of intramural sports, and Michelle Burt, coach of both women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams, have arranged for the gym to be closed to males and reserved for the women of Virginia Wesleyan every Monday and Wednesday night, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Cassarino said the reason for this is due to the recent decrease in female intramural attendance. He believes that this may be caused by the pressure females feel to perform in front of their male counterparts. He hopes that in an environment consisting strictly of women that the "pressure will be taken off."

Junior Michelle Dexter concurs whole-heartedly.

"I’m always self-conscious when I come in here and there are all of these guys looking at me," she said.

Burt pointed out how important it was for women to get together in this type of environment.

Other females commented on how the women’s night in the gym would simply be a good chance to get out with other women, have a good time with some old friends and meet some new ones.

"A bunch of us from Smithdeal just decided to come and hang out," sophomore Kristin Eaton said.

Cassarino dismissed any possible allegations of special treatment, pointing out the "plethora" of other campus events provided for a predominately male audience.

"It’s my feeling that this is beneficial to the campus on the whole despite the fact that it is geared to the women of the college," he said.

The first "women’s only" session met on Monday the 23rd at 7 p.m in the gym and included an initial itinerary of "sideline soccer" and an hour of aerobics.