Club sports corner

'M' skateboard club digs in

"We're trying to get members together right now," Tartof said. "I know there's tons of skateboarders in the area."

Tartoff said those who want to join the club are encouraged to email skateboard@umich.edu. There are currently around 10 members, but Tartof hopes that will soon increase. He feels that although interest may be there, it's hard to motivate skateboarders.

"Skateboarders by nature are unmotivated," Tartof said.

The club received $150 from the Michigan Student Assembly with which they will either buy equipment or pay the fines for illegally skateboarding. The skaters in the club cannot use the money to buy capital goods, according to MSA regulations. Tartof thinks that there is a possibility that, if the members keep their receipts for fines, they could be reimbursed.

"It would be pretty cool if we could do that," Tartof said, "I think I'm going to try doing that."

But Tartof's primary objective is to rouse enough interest in the club.

Currently, the skateboarding hot spots are by the Dennison Building and the ledge near the Union. The problem for skaters is that the Department of Public Safety knows the hot spots too, and is willing to enforce the $50 fine. But Tartof says sometimes he manages to weasel his way out of the fine.

"Sometimes they let you go," Tartof said. "Usually you just lie and tell them that you're a freshman and you don't know - I've used that line many times. But eventually they're going to start recognizing you."

Tartof is trying to make the black top by Palmer Field a safe place to skate, where the skaters can't be fined.

"I know the roller hockey team plays down there, so I want a piece of that black top to at least put some equipment there," Tartof said.

He plans on talking to Michigan Athletic Director Tom Goss about putting some equipment that doesn't interfere too much with University property.

"We just want a ledge or a curb where you can grind on. We don't have the money to build any half-pipes," Tartof said.

He hopes that unification will make all skaters at the University better off.

"Right now, we can't skate. We're straight-up oppressed," Tartof said.

- Dave Roth

11-29-99