The Rec Plex renovation is scheduled to be completed by August 2016. The final architect's drawing of the exterior is on the sign outside of the Rec Plex. Apparently nothing is being planned for Alumni Hall but there is an on going effort to raise funds to renovate Alumni Baseball Diamond.
Again, absolutely ZERO vision by the administration. Creating a state of the art facility next to the eyesore that is Alumni Hall is mindless. Should have been one project from the beginning and I don't want to hear about money. How much do you think the University has made in the market since the original plans for the "new" Alumni Hall were submitted? What's the endowment then to now? Inquiring minds want to know.
BUT you can donate to renovate Alumni Baseball Diamond while Alumni Hall keeps getting ignored. A beautiful new renovated RecPlex building attached to a 1959 façade that looks the same way it did 56 years ago but now with window AC units and peeling paint. Embarrassing to say the least, especially considering it's location at the Main Entrance to the University.
Sponsored by the Fairfield University Student Association, with donations provided by Vineyard Vines, students were invited to partake in a Fairfield tradition – the 56th Annual Dogwood Dance – last Saturday, April 18.
This year, Dogwood was held on the Barone Campus Center Green, a change from recent years where it has been held in Alumni Hall. Co-Director of Traditional Events at FUSA Patricia Masi ‘17 said that the change was made to reflect the desire by FUSA to revamp the event as a whole. “Having it in Alumni Hall is a good spot to have it, but it has a high school dance feel to it and we don’t want to be confined to a hot, gross gym. The first thing we thought of to appeal to students is to hold it outside.”
The largest capacity building on campus, the home of NCAA Division 1 Fairfield Women's Basketball and NCAA Division 1 Fairfield Women's Volleyball - "a hot gross gym, a high school dance feel, not up to Division 1 standards, past it's prime and a bad high school gym"...and yet that's what you get for $56,960 per year to attend Fairfield University ($43,770 Tuition and $13,190 Room & Board).
FU73, Alumni hall is an old building no doubt. I would love to see it be replaced or perhaps re-utilized in some manner. However in fairness and to bring some balance to your post the administration has been working on the building to improve it (not sure the last time you were on campus, I was there just Saturday)at least on the outside of the structure. Roofs , windows, door replacements, sidewalks and landscaping have all been re-worked recently, even some interior renovation has been completed. A long way to go before I am satisfied.
Most of that work was done almost two years ago and because the roof was leaking and patching it wasn't working. All the rest of the MAAC schools have improved or renovated their basketball facilities and AH is still the worst and in the most obvious location. No matter how you look at it Gene is correct, AH is still "a bad high school gym". Renovating and adding onto the RecPlex without incorporating a renovation of AH is shortsighted and just pushing back the inevitable and will cost more money, will make another mess at that part of the campus and yet Joe Frager has to recruit to it.
Well also lets keep in mind that this Recplex project was begun without the project being fully funded, they'd have to identify donors for Alumni now as well...
With the baseball field you've got baseball Alum that are eager to give back, I'm not sure who'd be willing to foot the bill for alumni? And quite frankly I don't think prospective students care about Alumni. The team plays at harbor yard, and they haven't been pretty good. In order to compete with other schools, I think updating the recplex is a great idea. Should they have tried to make it a one shot upgrade and inclusive of alumni? Sure. But doing the recplex was much needed, and is something the kids actually care about.
I think that is the biggest problem with the University Administration and their vision. Is there a law that says that it has to be a Fairfield U alum that makes a donation? Of course not. Many many many schools have facilities that were kickstarted by non-alums. Jack Welch didn't attend Sacred Heart!! Neither did Linda McMahon!! Who says that a Fairfield Prep Alum or a successful businessman in Fairfield County that doesn't currently donate to either Prep or the U that loves basketball or just loves a Jesuit Institution and kids love hoops/lives in CT who would be willing to donate $5-7.5 million over 10 years? That along with the savings from leaving the WBA would be sufficient enough for the financing. I know that person exists because they are giving money elsewhere, but it is not my job to find that person or company- that is the Admins job. I'm pretty confident that nobody has been asked in 10 years. The Cablevision Center has a nice ring to it. Sports/MSG/basketball- fairfield county market for them= great advertising- and they went to Fairfield U. Guys like Joel Smilow are begging to give the funds away. Start thinking out of the box.
Last Edit: Jul 29, 2015 14:14:30 GMT -5 by talladega
A new Alumni Hall - I am the biggest fan! Stagthomas that was funny.
Talladega - is Joel Smilow looking to give to FU? Call the University. I am sure they will take your call.
Agree the target giving net should grow for Fairfield especially as its history/influence in CT grows.
Let us all not forget, that we just built a premier Lacrosse Facility, we are doing a major renovation to the rec plex, Prep is putting a beautiful addition on, and we are putting in another astro turf field.
FU is quickly becoming better. If you know anyone that wants to give and be involved in something special, call George! Ha.
