Now scheduled to open on April 17, the new Center for Physical Activity missed its March 18 debut. Construction delays have caused the facility to postpone the opening several times since the project began two years ago.
Now, however, the building is down to the final touches, and it promises to be a real benefit for the students.
“I think the students are going to get a good facility for their money,” said Jon Walker, director of Campus Recreation.
The facility boasts three indoor basketball courts, a climbing wall, racketball and a pool, among other things.
Also, outside, the facility will eventually have fields for intra murals and a sun bathing deck.
Since the facility is going to be open to the students all the time, there will be no access issues concerning athletic practice or classes.
Competition for space had been a problem in both the Dome and Brook’s Gym.
Another issue of use concerns alumni, and neither they nor the general community will have access to the building. Only fee-paying students, faculty and staff will be able to use the center.
To address any potential student safety concerns, several measures are being taken.
“Public Safety is going to increase their bike patrol,” said Walker.
He went on to explain that Public Safety will also have an office in the building.
Public Safety officers, who had to conduct all their business in the main Public Safety office, will be able to access their computers and do some of their work in the center.
Lighting around the center will be improved as well.
The lighting is being specifically pointed down so that nearby residence halls will not suffer new light pollution at night. Also, lighting by the outdoor track will not be increased.
“There is still not good lighting going out to the track,” Walker said.
Another potential problem exists with the possibility of new traffic being introduced to the area.
While there is a good deal of parking near the center, traffic could pose somewhat of a problem.
Walker expressed his belief that there would little problem however, especially after building was completed, and the area around the center was cleared of the obstructions created by the construction work.
The largest problem facing the new center, however, has nothing to do with construction. Since this facility was paid for by the students through their fees, and this payment began four years ago, many students who began paying in their freshmen or sophomore years are near graduation, and they will have little time to use the facility.
This has been addressed by allowing any students graduating in 2001 or 2002 to have access to the Center until August 2003.
“The reason we picked a distinct date is to try to be as simple as possible,” Walker said.

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