U. renovates women's athletic facilities

Athletic Dep't overhaulsAthletic Dep't overhaulslocker rooms and completesAthletic Dep't overhaulslocker rooms and completesFranklin Field repairs Last year, the women's basketball team had to share their locker room with mice and cockroaches. But now College junior Michelle Maldonado says she and the rest of the team are looking forward to a pest-free season, thanks to the Athletic Department and Physical Plant's renovations of numerous locker rooms and other facilities over the summer. Physical Plant renovated the locker rooms for women's sports, including soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, softball and volleyball, in order to comply with Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to Senior Associate Athletic Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich. Femovich said the University is well ahead of schedule in completing the renovations. The original target date was June 1997. Associate Athletic Director for Facilities Larry Lauchle said the renovated locker rooms have brand-new showers, sinks, lockers and -- in some rooms -- carpeting. But the heating and air conditioning systems remain outdated. "I wouldn't say they're in great shape," Lauchle said. In addition, the Boat House on the Schuylkill River -- which serves the men's heavyweight, lightweight and women's crew teams -- saw extensive renovations over the summer. "What we did was renovate [the] whole upper level so that they all have new locker-room areas but share a common area for weight training," Femovich said. The University has received alumni donations to renovate several men's locker rooms, including basketball, soccer, lacrosse and baseball. "When you add all those up, we probably did about 10 or 12 locker room areas over the course of the last year," said Femovich, noting the renovations cost "at least several hundred thousand dollars." Lauchle said the Franklin Field bleachers are also finished and should last well into the next century. "The place looks great," Lauchle said. "I'm sure it will last for another 40 years or 50 years before something has to be done." A gift from the Class of 1971 will fund the creation of a Palestra VIP and media room, which should be ready by this season's first home basketball game, according to Lauchle. He also highlighted an ongoing problem in the Franklin Field-Weightman Hall complex -- the lack of sufficient electricity. "We can't turn everything on at one time," Lauchle said. "If we turn the lights on at Franklin Field, we have to switch some lights off someplace else." He added that the University is currently looking into purchasing a small extra power supply unit for the basement of Weightman Hall. The renovations to the women's locker room -- for example, the extra showers -- will allow players to leave more quickly following practices and games, Lauchle said. Women's basketball coach Julie Soriero said she is pleased that the University is bringing its facilities into compliance with Title IX. "What the gender equity situation gave us was a real quick influx of funds," Soriero said. "I can say beyond a doubt that our locker room is the nicest women's basketball locker room in the Ivy League." Soriero and field hockey coach Val Cloud said the new locker rooms may help in recruiting. "It's definitely an improvement," said Cloud, adding that in the past she would "never, ever show our recruits the locker rooms because it was just an embarrassment." And College senior Curran Kelly, a field hockey player, said she thinks the renovations will help the team in the long run. "This is definitely a very positive thing for our program," she said.