Slide rule
Dear Editor:
The Mister International Rubber ( MIR ) event needs to be moved out of the gymnasium at the Center on Halsted ( the Center ).
While the gym works well most of the year, safety is severely compromised following the MIR event. The extensive use of talc and silicone transforms the usually good gymnasium floor into a giant oiled bowling lane. Participants slip and slide while moving around the court resulting in strains, falls and injuries to players. The effects of talc and silicone linger for up to a month following MIR making the courts nearly unusable the week following the event to dangerously slick three to four weeks later.
Some volleyball players bring water-soaked paper towels into the gym and place them on the floor near their court in order to remove the talc and silicone from their shoes and improve traction. Needless to say, wet paper towels on a gym floor pose yet another hazard that may ultimately result in injury.
The people running volleyball leagues and open volleyball ( which takes place five days each week ) acknowledge the safety problem and have advised the management of the Center. To date, these concerns have fallen on deaf ears. While I have no opposition to Mister International Rubber, it is time for this event to be moved out of the Center on Halsted gymnasium. I ask that the center's board of directors address this issue and eliminate a dangerous situation.
Sincerely,
Name withheld by request
Center on Halsted's Peter Johnson, director of public relations, responded: "A clean, safe and welcoming facility" is one of the expectations individuals can count on at Center on Halsted and the safety of all individuals participating in programs and events is a core objective.
In the five years of acting as the rental venue for Mister International Rubber, Center on Halsted has not received any incident reports of injury or complaints regarding cleanliness following the event. We appreciate the feedback, and would encourage individuals to speak with our staff when issues arise so they can be expediently addressed.
See other letters from this week at the links:
LGBTQ groups issue open letter: From Ferguson to true freedom 2014-12-09www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-LGBTQ-groups-issue-open-letter-From-Ferguson-to-true-freedom/49917.html .
LETTER Honoring one, dishonoring many 2014-12-13 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/LETTER-Honoring-one-dishonoring-many-/49970.html .