On Thurs., Dec. 1, Christian Knight, Cassidy Walker, and Phil Martin hosted an Open Discussion in Common Grounds to discuss upcoming facility renovations.
The main topic on the table was the upcoming renovations to the track. According to Phil Martin, Construction Management and Facility Planner, the advancement office has raised around $2.7 million and is intending to get to $3.1 million to move forward with the project. The new track will be expanded from six lanes to eight, including competition-level lights, new bleachers, long jump pits, and other equipment that will bring the complex up to ODAC (Old Dominion Athletic Conference) standards. The goal is to have the renovations completed by the Spring of 2024. In the meantime, the track and field athletes will use James Madison University and Harrisonburg High School complexes.
Another topic on the table was the replacement of the turf field and general upgrades and changes to the turf facilities. These changes are early on in the process, but Martin is hopeful that they can get the changes done “as early as next summer.” Martin is also hoping that they can get an agreement with the contractors this week. The turf will be removed and completely replaced. The athletics department will decide what type of turf will replace the existing one. Other upgrades will include installing closed bleachers so that nothing can fall through them, changing the bleachers so that they are American with Diabilities Act-compliant, and a few other things. Martin is hopeful that none of these renovations will impede any of the sports seasons.
Other changes discussed included the addition of an all-gender bathroom on the first floor of the Campus Center and early conversations about building a new space behind the Suter Science Center for some engineering workspaces.
There have been three other Open Discussion nights hosted by Cassidy Walker and Christian Knight. Walker and Knight worked on this idea together after the administration announced changes to Common Grounds that weren’t discussed at all with students. Walker and Knight wanted to bring more communication and community involvement to changes that were happening around campus. Knight says, “EMU is meant to be a community and any project needs to have a community touch on it.”
Walker and Knight want students to continue to come and give them ideas; this way they can have a better understanding of what is happening around campus. Walker says, “This project is for the students. That’s why we started it and that’s why it will continue to happen.” Open Discussion nights are sponsored by Student Government Association (SGA) and built into the duties of SGA, but Walker and Knight are looking for someone to carry on the work and host these nights. EMU students interested in leading Open Discussions should talk to Christian Knight or Cassidy Walker. Contact them at christian.knight@emu.edu or cassidy.walker@emu.edu.
