'Sabbath Book:' Entering The ERC Without Electricity

For Jewish Shomer Shabbas students, a Saturday pick-up basketball game at Eppley Recreation Center was farfetched. The ID swipe system required for entry would be breaking the Shabbas rules.But this spring, Saturday gym-goers need worry no more. Student Government Association President Steve Glickman worked with Campus Recreation Services to fix the issue.

"A lot of students wanted to hang out by the pool on Saturdays but they couldn't get in without swiping," he said. "I told them we shouldn't be alienating people based on religious observances. From there we worked on a couple of systems."

And Glickman and Brent Flynn, the associate director for CRS's business operations, tag teamed a solution -- which Glickman said he hopes will be up and running by April 1.

"We set up a system so that students can go on any computer and simply click on a link," Glickman said. "Students type in their name and UID, click submit, and their name is in the system."

Thus, the electricity component will be gone, and students will be in full compliance with the Shabbas laws.

"They wouldn't be required to show their ID at all," Flynn said. "We would have their IDs on paper copy."

The link will be available through Hillel's website, and the system will be updated every Friday. Employees at both the main desk and the desk by the outdoor pool will have printout copies of this "Sabbath book," according to Glickman.

"Students will have to tell the worker their name, UID and e-mail address. If it matches up to the book, they'll be let in," Glickman said.

Some students - such as sophomore journalism major Sarah Katz-Hyman - said the new system was a much- needed change.

"I think it's a good option for more religious students at our school, although I myself am not a Shabbat observer," she said. "I know it's important to many Jewish people to be able to observe Shabbat. If they wanted to go to the gym without worrying about the use of electricity, this is a good alternative."

Joseph Steinmetz, an alum and ERC employee, agreed.

"It sounds like a great option for Jewish students," he said. "It's great that those students won't be excluded from opportunities because of their religious beliefs. A lot of people will benefit from this."

However, Steinmetz said the system does have its drawbacks and that he was concerned it could enable students to sneak friends into the ERC.

"If people abuse the system, we'll address the issue then," Flynn said. "I don't think these students would do that though.