Following Â鶹¹ÙÍø Board of Trustees Quarterly Meeting, Fitness Center Grand Opening Demonstrates Investment in Students
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman was joined by University of Massachusetts officials and students for the Grand Opening of the newly renovated and revamped Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Fitness Center today at the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Tripp Athletic Center. The unveiling took place following the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees quarterly meeting, which occurred on the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth campus.
"The renovation of our fitness center demonstrates Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth's commitment to the 'whole' student. Enriching student life involves not only a dedication to the growth of the mind, but to the health of the body," noted Chancellor Grossman. "Already we are seeing more students flock to this fitness center. It is similar to the impact of our newly renovated Claire T. Carney Library where student use has tripled. Like the library, this is a place where students can gather, a place that makes Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth a home."
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth's beloved mascot, Arnie the Corsair, along with Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth student-athletes Michael Thomas of Everett and Krista Chauvin of Seekonk, pulled away the curtain and unveiled the fitness center's newest addition. The attendees were greeted with Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth student athletes making full use of the brand new cardio equipment. All of these members of Corsair Nation were adorning t-shirts stitched with the message "We are Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth".
Following the unveiling of the fitness center, remarks were offered by Chancellor Grossman, Â鶹¹ÙÍø Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Alumna Maria Furman, Â鶹¹ÙÍø Building Authority Director Katherine Craven, Massachusetts State Representative of Dartmouth Christopher M. Markey, Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter, Director of Athletics Amanda Van Voorhis, and Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth student Michael Thomas, a 4-year student-athlete and co-captain of the university's football team who also serves as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
Also on stage for the opening were Â鶹¹ÙÍø Trustee and Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Alumna Margaret D. Xifaras, State Representative of Westport Paul A. Schmid, III, and State Representative of Seekonk Steven S. Howitt.
"I have to say from the perspective of a coach, the opening of this facility is a win for everyone on campus. It's inviting, it's a gathering place, and it promotes community within Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth," said Director of Athletics and Head Coach of the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth women's basketball team Amanda Van Voorhis. "The space has nearly doubled in square footage. This year is the first ever that October usage beat September and November beat October which proves if you build it...they will come."
Construction has been completed on the $5 million expansion and renovation of the fitness center. The project doubles the size of the very heavily used facility from 8,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet. The expansion houses brand new state of the art cardio equipment and the second floor multipurpose aerobics room. The renovated facility includes a free weight area and new varsity athlete lifting room. The expansion follows a locker and training room renovation to Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth's Tripp Athletic Center, which reconfigured the locker and training rooms to better accommodate university athletic teams, visiting teams, and referees, while also allowing for distinct locker rooms for women's athletic teams.
"This year through the hard work from students, coaches, administrators, and the Board of Trustees, I have finally been able to see this beautiful project come to fruition," offered Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Senior Mike Thomas. "This fitness center is easily the best gym that I have ever had the pleasure of being in, and it gives me great satisfaction to know that the administration and Board of Trustees saw this need for the gym and took action."
The opening of the new and revamped Fitness Center is part of a series of recent investments aimed at expanding opportunity for Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth students and faculty. Completed projects include the renovation of the Claire T. Carney Library, the Hall-Hildreth IDEAStudio, and the College of Nursing's Elisabeth A. Pennington Simulation Laboratory. The Massachusetts Accelerator for Biomanufacturing is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. In October of this year, Governor Deval Patrick announced funding for a new academic building at Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth that will support the campus's growing enrollment. In addition, there are plans for expansion of the Charlton College of Business and the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST).