Photoessay #19 - My one victory

This photo documents my one victory at the University of Oregon. Early but sweet. I take full credit for opening the bathrooms in MacArthur Court, that ancient gym adjacent to Howe Field, the ancient softball field. Let me set the stage...University of Oregon hosting Pac 10 and other Division 1 opponents, Pac 10 softball at a school that prides itself on its very fancy athletic facilities. And the fans are expected to use port-a-potties???? When the Mac Court bathrooms are not 10 feet away? With indoor plumbing? Sure, they haven't been renovated since 1927 but they're clean and they flush. It's hot during the late part of the season and the port-a-potties are, shall we say, unpleasant.

Sometimes the Mac Court bathrooms are open and sometimes they are not. My parents are coming from Illinois to watch the games and I want those bathrooms open. This is a disgrace. I go to a set of games and the bathrooms are locked. I've talked to the event staff and they shrug their shoulders. OK, I'm going to get those bathrooms open or go down trying. I mention to the Head Coach. I say that my elderly somewhat handicapped parents are coming and I want those bathrooms available. She looks me right in the eye (at an angle, of course, Coach A is over 6'4") and says "Even a wheelchair can fit in the large Port-a-pottie" Okee dokie, I'm going up the ladder and you have been warned.

So I start out writing to the event person...actually it's some of my very best writing. I start out with a sentence straight out of a Bernie Black proposal:

I would like to persuade you to keep the Mac Court restrooms available to those who attend the UO softball games at Howe Field.

And I end with the obligatory Title IX potshot

I understand that the future of Howe Field has been uncertain for some time. I understand that there may be security concerns about access to the entire Mac Court from the restroom area. However, I am sure that this can be solved especially for the small number of home dates. The University hosts all kinds of events. A temporary barrier could be put up to restrict access within Mac Court or a staff member could monitor Mac Court. Is this a Title IX issue? Are other attendees of sports events denied access to available restrooms?

I let them know that I'm going to follow up with a phone call. And I do.

And I keep following up. It gets kicked up to the Associate AD. After continued pressure, I get the bathrooms open and they remained open for the rest of my tenure. Yippee! Victory at Sea!!

During the first weekend, they hire a security guard whose whole job is to guard the Mac Court bathrooms. My very own personal security guard. I go up to him and tell him so. I beam with pride. I take his picture. For the next three years I encourage every bathroom user to tell the event staff how GRATEFUL they are that the Mac Court bathrooms are open.

So it was my only triumph, my contribution to Oregon Softball. I rest my case.