Women get more room to flex
WOMEN’S LOCKER ROOM EXPANDED TO MEET TITLE IX GUIDELINES
BY TRAVIS DAVID V WHITTAKER
Closed for the summer. Students who took summer
classes were unable to use the lower level of Randall Hall
where the workout facility is located. The building has
been under construction after several findings related
to Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act in
2012. The men’s locker room was substantially larger
than the women’s before construction.
Mickey Yeager, the project coordinator for campus
services, said, “ In 2012 the Oregon Department of
Education conducted a comprehensive civil rights review
of CCC’s operations and facilities. The findings report
recommended ADA and Title IX corrective actions for
the Randall Hall locker room/restroom facilities.”
In order for the school to meet those requirements,
they closed the lower level of Randall Hall during the
past three months. Yeager said that the construction is
due to be complete by the second week of the fall term.
“ I t hasn't affected any fa ll
workouts. We are planning on
having access to the space on the
first day o f the fa ll term.”
- Jim Martineau
The updates that are on the lower level of the building
include a gender neutral changing room and family
locker room area. Also to meet Title IX laws, the men’s
and women’s locker rooms will be the same size.
In addition to making Title IX updates, Yeager added
that the construction will include updated ADA facilities.
Randall Hall has always had an elevator to reach the
bottom floor of the classrooms on the upper levels,
but it has not had accessible bathrooms and showers.
Yeager said, "With the updates, there will be ADA shower
controls and everything will be mirror images of each
other.”
Some questions could arise as to how the weight room
and physical education classes will function with possible
construction still going on during the first and second
weeks of the term. According to the college’s athletic
director, Jim Martineau, the weight room will reopen
on the first day of the term.
"We are planning on having access to the space on
the first day of fall term. If this doesn’t happen, we will
work with our students to provide a space to change for
classes.”
It isn’t clear how students will be able to access the
weight room during the first week. But Martineau
commented that it would either be the hallway or down
by the sidewalk on the south side of the building with
proper signage to help navigate students and faculty.
•(M amas Ptw
26.2016 thKMumaspnrtœm
Above: From left to right, returning women’s basketball players Rachel Johnny, Tierrany Marshal,-McBride and
Nicole Hermosillo-Wright pose in front of lockers during spring term 2016.
Below: A construction worker cuts blocks Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Photo by Travis David V Whittaker
Martineau added that the construction hasn’t affected
the training for any of the fall sports including girls’
soccer, volleyball and cross country.
"It hasn’t effected any fall workouts. We have access to
the fitness center for athletic team workouts as needed
and we have made a temporary training room in the
fitness center as well.”
Many student athletes are excited for the new changes.
Head wrestling coach, Josh Rhoden, said “ Our athletes
and staff are really excited about it and ready to get into
the new facility. I can’t tell you how much this has been
needed and at the very least addresses one of the many
needs over here in Randall.”
Before construction, the lower level of Randall Hall
wasn’t inviting. It was old. Lockers were busted in. The
concrete needed to be replaced. With the new, updated
lower level, it is definitely more inviting and a great
place to work out o n the Oregon City campus.
For those gym rats on campus or students who want
to start working out, the hours will be Monday and
Wednesday from 8:30-1030 a.m. and then again from
1-8 p.m . On Tuesday and Thursday, it will be open from
noon to 8 p.m. Hours on Friday are from 830-1030 a.m.
and 1-5 p.m . Access to the weight room is free with a
current student ID.