UA passes plan for two basketball courts

The outdoor courts will be located on top of the garage at 38th and Spruce streets, at a cost of $190,000. Moving one step closer to making their hoop dreams realities, the Undergraduate Assembly voted last night to build two basketball courts on top of the parking garage at 38th and Spruce streets. The motion to have the courts on top of the garage was passed by College and Wharton sophomore Dave Burd, and the UA unanimously voted on this location. They decided against the alternate location, Mayer Hall, agreeing that the noise factor would upset the residents. Five members of the UA met with Provost Robert Barchi last week to discuss the basketball courts. During the meeting, Barchi offered his support to the project and the price of two courts was determined at $190,000. The courts will be funded by both the UA and the University with possible help coming from other student groups. The UA originally presented its proposal to the University in November and a month later presented officials with a a petition signed by 1,210 students. The original proposal called for the courts to be built at the 38th and Spruce location, but the University wanted to look at other sites, including Hamilton Village and Hill Field due to expense issues. Now that the UA has targeted a location for the courts, they will move into the next stage of the process -- fundraising. "I am happy that the UA has decided this important aspect of the project," UA Chairman Mike Silver, a College senior, said. "Now our focus shifts to fundraising." Due to the significant costs of building two courts, Engineering junior Theo LeCompte suggested that the UA consider investing some of next year's UA budget into the project. Michael Bassik, UA treasurer and College junior, said it was a possibility since the UA has been doing very well financially -- with $44,880 of their $63,736 budget left -- and can expect to do this well next year, especially if they receive more funding from the University next year. Ethan Kay, a Wharton freshman who was present at the meeting with Barchi, presented several fundraising techniques the UA could pursue. He outlined three options -- pursuing a donor who would be willing to donate most if not all of the money and dedicating the court in his or her name; seeking funding from other student groups and recognizing them as co-sponsors; or finding local restaurants and companies to advertise on the basketball courts. UA members said that it was likely they would pursue any of the three, or a combination of them. Though the vote for the location was unanimous, one UA member, Wharton junior Jon Glick, was opposed to the construction of two courts. Glick, who also serves as chairman of the UA's facilities committee, said that while he fully supports the project, he thought it was important that the popularity of the first court be determined before building a second one. "As much as I am in favor for the basketball courts," Glick said after the UA meeting, "I feel that the second court can be built at anytime." The UA also discussed budgeting, Student Health Services' fees and a presentation by Wharton sophomore Brian Kelly, a member of Penn's Progressive Activist Network and United Students Against Sweatshops.