Wellness Center adds excitement to campus community

By Tom Bruce

In 1969, I had the privilege of watching the construction of Decker Hall. As a married student, Marlyne and I lived across the street in the Feree Apartments (now Reardon Auditorium parking lot). We watched the steel beams being welded into place and marveled at the dexterity of the workers as they scampered from pillar to post. What a wonderful project to watch, and then to have the joy of being among the first students to enjoy the spacious new classrooms and study areas. I remember standing among a large crowd of alumni and students in 1971 as we gathered to dedicate the largest facility to have been built on campus.

FAST FORWARD 31 YEARS. Along with students and the entire campus community, we have watched the rising up of the Wellness Center. Week after week, we have witnessed the steel, bricks and mortar coming together to fashion what will be the largest building on campus. More than a decade of planning and 18 months of construction will soon culminate in a community celebration and dedication at Homecoming Oct. 12.

Gone are some old familiar structures. Remember the old white block building behind Rice Hall that served as a laundry room and then weight training facility? Well, it’s gone. The red brick physical plant adjacent to Bennett Natatorium also has been returned to dust. Left in the place of these old and tired facilities is a magnificent structure with beautiful landscaping.

While this new facility is impressive, what is equally exciting is knowing what will take place in this center. A vast array of academic programming, recreational and intramural opportunities will touch the lives of every student on a daily basis. Our students will have a state-of-the-art complex and the opportunity to learn from the finest faculties in the disciplines of wellness and human performance science. Hooray for our students and a special thank you to donors and all the individuals who have labored to make this new facility a reality.

CELEBRATE is the theme of Homecoming 2002. We will dedicate this new facility on Saturday morning, Oct. 12, and then spend many hours experiencing the joy that comes in being a part of history. This is a personal invitation to all of our alumni and friends to come and be a part of the dedication and experience the joy that comes with celebrating. I hope to see you in the dedication crowd this October.