I (20F) recently joined a figure skating club at a local university in my city. Because I am a student at a neighboring university instead of the university the club is run through, I am kind of the odd one out in the club. I’ve at least made a friend there though and have had great conversations with a lot of fellow club members! However, the university is known for being pretty exclusive, as it’s an ivy league.
I knew the sign up process for the me might be different since I am from a different university whereas almost if not everyone else in the club is from the hosting university, so I showed up early on the first practice just in case. The president arrived soon after me and told me I wasn’t allowed to join the club because I am not a student at their university. I thought that sounded strange, as on the ice rink’s website as well as all the google registration forms it says there are members from other neighboring universities and list an option to check “student from neighboring university”. As I was taking my skates off to leave I met a person (who is now my friend) who was shocked when I told them I had just been rejected for going to a neighboring university. She said she also saw online that they accept other students and even sent me screenshots so I had proof after the fact.
I went home and did some digging myself into the rules and as far as I understood, I was only ineligible to be on the university’s competition team, but would be fine to skate with them recreationally, as many students from neighboring universities have in the past.
I came to the next meeting and the president unfortunately wasn’t there, however everyone else who was there told me that I’m definitely allowed to join and not to worry about it! So I went ahead and registered on the google form and paid my dues with no issues.
So the main issue is that I signed up to be a part of the club’s annual winter show (a recreational activity) and was casted in one of the group numbers. The group number I’m in has weekly off-ice rehearsals in one of the university’s gyms, which have strict access guidelines. Basically, you need an ID from that specific university to get in. When I emailed to ask how I can get into the gym and if someone could maybe make arrangements or give me a guest pass since I’m a club member from a neighboring university, they replied “We’re so sorry, you need to be a club member to participate in the show.” But I am a club member???
Additionally, I signed up to get lessons from fellow club members, and in the form it states “non-[university-name] emails will not be matched with a coach”. I put a note in the form explaining my situation as well as checking the box that says “student from neighboring university”. I have still not been matched with a coach and it’s been weeks. I’m worried it’s because I didn’t have a student email for their university.
The first winter show rehearsal is tomorrow night and I’m praying the university will let me in the gym, as the club hasn’t responded to me since the last email. I feel like the club is kind of shutting me out because I go to a different school. I’m nervous to contact the university campus recreation because the lines are sort of blurred between the competition team and recreational club, and the club is completely student run. What do I do???
TL;DR: I joined a college figure skating club as a student from a neighboring college and am being shut out. What do I do?
EDIT: I should also mention that I’ve been attending club ice/meetings at the rink every week for the past month with no issue. As an adult skater who has only been skating for a little less than a year, this whole situation has been really discouraging and frustrating.
