Mind & Body
Esslinger Renovation Plans
Matt Garton/Emerald
Esslinger renovation nearly half-finished
The exercise center will
focus on providing a
place for socializing
By Teri Meeuwsen
Oregon Daily Emerald
When students return to the
University in the fall, they will
have more than just a place to bum
calories and build bulk. They’ll
have a place to relax with friends
in the juice bar, climb an indoor
rock-climbing wall and run on a
new suspended indoor running
track.
The $19 million construction
project that now engulfs Esslinger
Hall will be half-finished with
one more phase to be completed
by summer session 2000.
“It will be a pleasant place to
linger,” said Gregg Lobisser, pro
ject manager and associate dean
of student life. “This will be a
place for health and fitness, but
there is no question in our design
that we’re acknowledging the so
cial qualities.”
Molly Kennedy, facilities coor
dinator, said there's a misconcep
tion that Esslinger Hall is just
about people who work out.
“It’s not just for athletes,” she
said. “It’s for everyone who
wants a place to hang out. It’s just
a matter of getting them here.”
While improvements on
Leighton Pool were finished ear
lier this term, students will be
able to access the first phase’s re
wards in the fall, including a larg
er strength and conditioning
5 Is this
■■ a good
O day for
W romance?
find out in the
ODE Classifieds,
every day!
room, a new three-court gymnasi
um and remodeled, larger locker
rooms.
But getting to that stage has tak
en some time.
While on schedule, the first
phase of the hall’s construction
consisted of most of the major
wall remodeling, using $13 mil
lion of the project’s budget. The
sidewalk, the steps and a new en
trance are just a couple of exam
ples.
“It’s more time-consuming to
take things out of the ground than
put finishing touches on,” Lobisser
said.
When the new entrance is com
pleted, students will see a water
fall over basalt columns where a
“bite” was taken out of a barrier.
This $120,000 part of the project
accommodates the 1% for Art re
quirement. When a building is
built or renovated, it is required
by state law to include a piece of
art.
Funds for the project came
from three sources. The majority
of the money comes from student
recreational fees, Lobisser said.
All students pay the fee even if
they do not use the recreational
facility. Students voted to in
crease the student incidental fees
by $7.75 per term in the fall of
1995 to help pay for the renova
tions.
About $8.5 million comes from
state building fees collected by
the Oregon University System.
The remainder of the resources
came from fund raising.
When the $6 million second
phase is finished in 2000, stu
dents will see even more of the
project’s rewards.
More gym space, remodeled
racquetball courts, enclosed ten
nis courts and an improved syn
thetic soccer field will be open for
enjoyment.
“It can be a place that turns into
a place to relax in-between classes
[and working out],” said Michelle
Martin, a junior sociology major.
“If they have a class at the rock
climbing wall, then they can fin
ish that up and hang out for a cou
ple hours afterwards.”
Junior business major Sean
Tomashiro said the newness of the
building will attract more stu
dents.
“It will just be the place to be,”
he said. “It will be like the Fish
bowl is now — a newer and
lighter social environment.”
All of the new facilities will
benefit the University’s recruit
ment and retention, Lobisser
said. Students who are health
oriented and students who aren’t
will have a nice place to develop
relationships and a sense of be
longing.
“We’re not trying to duplicate
the mission of the EMU,” Lobisser
said. “Thousands of students will
meet there and we created the
open spaces to let that happen. It
will be a place for health and fit
ness but will be a social melee as
well.”
Z6ZS00
It isn’t fun
when you’re worried.
IsitP
[DEE Birth Control Supplies &
inCC Sexual Health Services
Call or stop by to see if you qualify.
PPlanned Parenthood
1670 High, Eugene 344-9411
^(Advertise in Oregon Daily Emerald Classifieds! Call 346-4343!
V0S shoe S/.
004056
Wig Warn Socks
Acorn Slippers
Spenco Products
Wood Clogs
Birkenstock Repair
iRlPAlRSj
I
Jerry Martin
• 843 E. 13th
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: 541-343-6613
005936
Student Special
$25 off any kayak class
$5 off any kayak rental
Close
to Autzen
Stadium
a new bike
store in
Eugene!
High
Street
Bikes
535 High St.,
next to the 5th
Street Market
687-1775
High St. has
everything you
need at great
prices and the best
service anywhere
Bring this ad in for a~j t
free spot wheel true i
2 wheels per ad j i
Quality Outdoor Gear and Clothing Since 1938
3rd and Washington • Eugene 465-1800
Save Now On
Snowboards, bindings,
boots and clothing
Limited sizes available.
s
Check out Rhythm & Reviews in the Emerald
every Friday for the latest in local entertainmentt