The fence and card-activated turnstiles installed around the outdoor basketball courts on campus this winter and the accompanying usage policy will go into effect on April 1.
The fence was the object of a student protest in the fall. The protesting students’ critiques
and actions do not appear to have had any effect on the administrative decisions regarding
fence policy. The policy will have the ramifications that students feared it would: it will
restrict court access and usage hours, limiting and marginalizing the Avondale, Norwood and Evanston communities. Xavier facilities are primarily designed for students, no doubt. The problem lies with the spirit
of the fence: one that keeps out the ‘other,’ and one of privileging material security over human dignity and cooperation
