Original link:
http://coloradodaily.com/articles/2003/08/07/news/news10.txt
See end for my quote.

Friday Aug. 8, 2003 

A turf war?
By SCOTT BERSHOF Colorado Daily Staff  

The idea of replacing natural grass with synthetic turf around the CU campus may 
sound unappealing, especially in a nature-friendly place like Boulder.

University officials, however, say it would be greatly beneficial to the campus 
community and to students in particular.

The initial plan would include installing synthetic turf and lights at Farrand 
Field, said Jeff Lipton, the Executive Director for Facilities Management.

Lipton said the idea was proposed by the Recreation Center and is part of a 
larger plan to upgrade and expand athletic fields all across campus, including 
CU South.

"The fields across campus aren't enough compared to the student population," 
Lipton said. "Recreational services can't meet the needs of all the club sports 
and intramurals."  

The proposal is also aimed at students who "passively" use the fields for pick-up 
activities, Lipton said.

"We have a very active student body that loves to participate in these 
programs," said Lipton. "It's a very important aspect of student-life issues. As 
enrollment grows, and interest in these activities does also, we need to do 
something."

The popularity of the campus' fields is one of the main problems, Lipton said.

"They're so heavily utilized that they can't be maintained the way they should 
be," Lipton said. "Sometimes the fields can't be used because of weather. And if 
someone plays on them when they're wet, it causes lots of damage. We've had to 
close off fields before, so they could be restored."

University officials may like the idea, but ultimately, its implementation is up 
to the students. The proposal will likely be a student referendum issue, 
probably during the spring semester, depending on the reaction from UCSU and the 
student body, said Gary Chadwick, the Director of the Recreational Department.  

The surface, the same kind of turf used on CU's football practice fields, has 
already been approved by students around campus who have played on it, said Kris 
Schoech, the director of Club Sports.

"(CU athletic dept. officials) John Burianek and John Krueger were gracious 
enough to give the club sports the opportunity to use the football practice 
field this spring, because a third of Franklin Field was gone because of the 
construction," Schoech said. "Both the men's and women's lacrosse and rugby 
teams played and they thought the surface was fantastic. The rugby teams are 
going to use it as a practice field this semester, after football is done for 
the evening. They would much rather practice there than over at Farrand."

Schoech said it's important to remember that the surface isn't Astroturf, the 
notorious fake turf used in various sports stadiums beginning in the '70s.

"It's called sports turf," Schoech said. "It's soft because it has a 35-inch 
rubber cushion beneath it. Once the student body feels it, they'll fall in love 
with it. It's better than grass."

Anyone concerned that the turf might be more dangerous than natural grass, will 
be pleasantly surprised, said Lipton.

"The quality of the turf actually makes it less injury prone than grass," Lipton 
said. "There are a lot of injuries on natural turf because the ground is usually 
uneven."

Installing the turf will have other benefits as well, Chadwick said.

"For one, we won't have to worry about drought conditions," Chadwick said. "We 
also won't have to worry about chemicals and pesticides, or maintenance."

The new turf will also make it easier to deal with Colorado's uncertain weather, 
Schoech said.

"If it snows in the morning, it'll be plowed and ready for activity by that 
afternoon," Schoech said.  

Schoech said some people may initially see this as an anti-environmental 
decision, but in fact, it's just the opposite.

"We're saving water because it won't need to be watered," Schoech said. 
"Everyone loves natural grass. But with the fields around here, it's no longer 
natural grass, it's natural dirt."

Schoech said the proposal will also address another important campus issue: 
safety.

"The lights will brighten up the campus at night because it's usually dark over 
there by Farrand," Schoech said.

Brian Schwartz, an electrical engineering doctoral candidate, said he 
understands all the positive things the new turf could bring to campus, but 
still sees negative aspects.

"Since I have yet to walk on the proposed artificial turf, I hesitate to judge 
it," Schwartz said. "Having played Staff Council softball at Farrand for the 
past few summers, I'm concerned that the field renovation might require that we 
play on the yet-to-be-built south campus. This would inconvenience most players, 
who would simply keep their equipment in their offices and walk to Farrand."

Besides, Schwartz said, the thought of having artificial turf around campus just 
sounds like an awkward concept.

"Even if some sports teams like it, it might not be appropriate for a field so 
central to campus as Farrand," Schwartz said. "It is often used for recreational 
sports, picnic, or enjoying a novel on a beautiful spring day. Will tour guides 
proudly show prospective students a grassless Farrand Field? I can hear them 
now: 'Welcome to CU, where it's easier to smoke grass than to walk on it.'"  

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