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Recreation Center grand opening celebrated

Event consided "One of the greatest opportunities in the history of the university"

By Katee Stearns

Posted on Monday, October 15th, 2007, 12:00 am

University of Maine’s student Recreation Center had its grand opening Friday, Oct. 12. Students, faculty, alumni and community members gathered to celebrate the Rec Center’s official dedication to University students.

“We’ve had a tremendous response, students really seem to love this building and I hope it will enhance student life here at UMaine,” Dr. Kenda Scheele, senior associate dean of students, said. Scheele sees it as not just a work out place, but also a social gathering and meeting place, like The Memorial Union.

Construction for the Rec Center was complete on Aug. 24, and the facility opened to the public Aug. 31. However, Scheele felt it was important to wait until students, faculty and community members had a chance to experience the facility to its fullest before holding an official grand opening.

“We’ve had more than 50,000 people swipe in and more than 15,000 have taken tours,” Scheele said.

Students, faculty and members of the community gathered in the lower lobby for a brief ceremony to celebrate the Rec. Center and dedicate it to the student body.

Dr. Robert Dana, dean of students, was first to speak at the event and welcomed everyone to the facility. “This is a moment of celebration for the University of Maine. At universities nationwide, the idea of celebrating a campus achievement is very, very important. This opportunity today gives us one of the greatest opportunities in the history of the university to have a moment where we step back and bask in the glow of greatness of an institution like this,” Dana said.

Dana also referred to the facility as a “beacon, in every way, shape and form,” and said that it will give students a place that will allow them to join mind and body.

William Pomerleau, president of Student Government, said that it was nearly four years ago that former student body president Matthew Rodrigue spearheaded an investigation for a new student recreation center, and, now that the doors have finally opened, members can fully enjoy this space with two racquetball courts, a lane pool, hot tub, sauna, basket and volleyball courts, an indoor track and, as Pomerleau said, “the list goes on and on.”

Dana later introduced President Kennedy, attributing much of the facilities success to Kennedy’s support and involvement. “When we brought the idea to the president, he came back to us and said if this will serve the student interest and you will commit to serve the students and transform the student experience, then I will commit to support this,” Dana said.

Kennedy said, “Whenever anyone walks into this facility, and some are doing it today for the first time, people are absolutely awestruck.”

Kennedy then went on to share with listeners a letter which he had written to place in a UMaine time capsule that was embedded in the facility following the grand opening.

Kennedy closed with reading the contents of the letter, which he reminded listeners could be read in 2057 or thereafter. The letter included news of increased enrollment at the University, which according to Kennedy is at a record high in UMaine’s 142-year history. The letter continued with events that have taken place this fall, such as Woodward and Cohen speaking in regards to Watergate, as well as praise for the new recreation facility.

Kennedy said that the Rec Center has and will continue to have an “enormous impact on this campus.” He hopes that the letter will bring inspiration to future generations.

For students who have not yet visited the Rec Center, it is located behind Hilltop Commons.