The Journal

Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jamie Ford Director of the University Center and student activites John Ginsburg steals the ball and runs down the court.

Mid-term week can be stressful. Many students can be found cramming in the library or vigorously punching the keys on the computer in order to prepare for a test or big project.
   

Students were given a chance to alleviate some of that anxiety March 4 in Webster University’s first annual Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game.
   

The game allowed students the opportunity to shoot hoops with faculty members such as Director of Student Activities John Ginsburg and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions Matt Schutte. The game took place in Grant’s Gymnasium in the University Center. Approximately 25 students and faculty participated in the event.
   

The Student vs. Faculty Basketball game was sponsored by Campus Activities and created by Liz Eisele. Eisele was looking for another way for students and faculty to compete with each other besides the annual Student vs. Faculty Softball Game that takes place every year during SpringFest.
   

“This year I wanted to incorporate a different kind of way for students and faculty to compete against each other,” Eisele said.
    

While the students ended up winning the contest, the outcome was not the most important aspect of the game. Some of the students just enjoyed the opportunity to socialize with faculty members outside of the classroom.
   

“It’s a good experience for all the kids to come out and play against faculty and have a good time,” said freshman Justin Endo, an education major and forward on Webster’s men’s basketball team. “It takes you away from the stressful environment of academics. You joke around with the teachers, throw the basketball, talk a little trash.”
   

Some attendees also expressed an interest in competing in any student vs. faculty basketball games Webster may host.
   

“The game is a good opportunity for everybody to come out and have fun,” said freshman Cade Akers, a broadcast journalism major and guard on Webster’s men’s basketball team.
   

Shutte agrees, saying he hopes any future student vs. faculty basketball games have more participants.
   

“You would always like to see more people,” Shutte said. “But it was on a Sunday afternoon.”
   

While students and faculty hope the game develops into a staple at Webster, some associates —  such as Ginsburg and Schutte — will continue a basketball tradition of their own.
   

Almost every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Grant’s Gym in the UC Webster faculty and staff members — such as Ginsburg and Schutte — can be found playing basketball during lunch.
   

After participating faculty basketball games at the College of Wooster in Ohio, Ginsburg suggested starting something similar at Webster. Several members of Webster’s faculty and staff, including Ted Hoef, Webster’s associate vice president and dean of students, were interested.
    

“We had a group of people that enjoyed playing b-ball and had an opportunity,” Hoef said.
   

Nearly a decade later, the game is still going strong.  As many as 15 Webster associates regularly participate in the faculty and staff basketball games, including, Ginsburg, Hoef, Shutte, Associate Dean of Students John Buck, Course Developer and Instructional Designer Jon Jensen, Associate Professor in the School of Business Al Marcella, Director of Study Abroad and International Projects Guillermo Rodriguez, and Financial Analyst Justin Stearns.
   

The faculty enjoys playing basketball for various reasons, competition, staying fit, etc. 
   

But, one of the biggest is the camaraderie with fellow associates.
   

“It’s a good way to get to know people at work that you might not interact with,” Ginsburg said.  “You might only see them once a month at a meeting or something like that. This way, you can see them a couple times a week.”
   

Camaraderie isn’t the only reason these educators-turned-athletes choose free throws over Fritos three times a week.  Some are trying to get back in shape.
   

Jensen joked he started playing to work off “all that beer I drank” before admitting he enjoyed the workout and keeping physically fit. Furthermore, Jensen said basketball keeps him away from other temptations.
   

“I think it’s (basketball) great,” Jensen said.  “I think it’s great that everyone’s boss allows us to take our lunch here instead of going out to eat at McDonald’s where I’d get fat.”
   

Hanging out with co-workers and staying in shape aside, the main reason for the faculty and staff basketball game is sheer enjoyment.
   

“It’s great. It’s fun,” Hoef said. “It’s just a bunch of guys who can’t really play basketball who have the opportunity to come in and do it.”

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