For the benefit of the entire Washington and Lee University family of today and tomorrow, the undersigned W&L Alumni respectfully request that the Board of Trustees reconsider the current construction plans for the new natatorium (http://news.blogs.wlu.edu/2013/10/21/wl-board-selects-site-for-new-natatorium) in favor of a 50 meter by 25 yard facility.
While the currently-planned 39.3 meter by 25 yard (“25 meter stretch”) facility would certainly be an improvement over the existing Cy Twombly natatorium, we believe the combination of Non Incautus Futuri and the long-unmet facility needs of one of the most successful athletic programs at Washington and Lee compels the conclusion that a 50 meter by 25 yard pool would best serve the current and future generations of Washington and Lee students. A 50 meter by 25 yard facility would be in line with the University’s "done the right way" standard for athletic facilities which has yielded the renovation/new construction of Wilson Field, W&L Turf Field, Alston Parker Watt Field, Cap'n Dick Smith Field, Dick Miller Cross Country Course, Duchossois Tennis Center, etc. Specifically, as compared to a 25 meter stretch pool, the construction of a 50 meter by 25 yard facility would:
· Greatly increase the University’s competitive, recreational and other programming flexibility;
· Improve W&L’s recruiting, training, and competition for any varsity or club aquatic sports, allowing W&L to compete with D-III “Top 10” programs;
· Enable W&L to host BMAC championship meets and combined ODAC championship meets; and
· Be consistent with W&L’s stature as a “leading national liberal arts university” and allow W&L to join the almost 50% of our academic/admissions peers who already have 50 meter by 25 yard pools and keep pace with like-minded peer institutions planning to build 50 meter by 25 yard pools that could raise that number to over 60% in the next 3-5 years.
We recognize there is incremental marginal cost to “doing it right.” Understood clearly, the decision to construct a 50 meter by 25 yard pool more than meets an objective cost-benefit analysis. We respectfully ask the University to an earnest effort to identify the additional marginal cost to make it a reality. We stand ready to assist in that effort. Beyond simply making this request for an aquatics facility “done the right way,” each of the undersigned pledges to support this effort financially.
Thank you for your diligent stewardship of our alma mater. We appreciate the decision to construct a 25 yard stretch pool was arrived at through considerable effort, guided by the best of intentions. At the very least, we ask the Trustees to give this issue additional consideration, with the benefit of the additional data and perspectives we can provide.
Thank you very much for your consideration. Go Generals!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 5, 2014
April 28, 2014
The petition reached one hundred signatures this morning. I am now drafting a formal letter to the Board of Trustees to outline our requirements for the natatorium project.
Reached 100 supporters
April 25, 2014
7 Comments
We need the space for warm ups during meets. The current plan is just way too small for what the team actually deserves.
My brother swam there years ago and it was always cramped. Doing it right the first time is just smarter than having to fix it later.
Go big or go home. W&L should have the best pool in the conference if we are bothering to build it at all.
Exactly. Why build a new facility that is already behind the times compared to other schools? Makes no sense.
I think we need to be really specific about why we need the longer pool. Non-swimmers have no idea why it makes a difference. We can help with that! We need to explain why swimmers need additional warm-up/warm-down space, how championship meets are set-up and run, etc. Can others add help me with additional specifics?
As a parent of four swimmers, I attend many swim meets. 125 or more a year throughout many different states is a typical year. With that background, I can agree wholeheartedly that W&L's current facility is a liability to the success of the aquatics programs and needs to be replaced as soon as is practical. When it comes to the standard employed for it being "done the right way" however, it gets a little complicated. There is almost always a tradeoff between the needs of hosting a sizeable meet (spectator seating, deck space, office space for officials, etc.) and the everyday needs of the program. I regularly go to facilities where it is obvious that difficult choices needed to be made due to space or budget considerations. For example, Wesleyan has a beautiful 50 meter pool but only about 350 seats in the gallery: a huge problem when they try to host a state or conference meet. Other pools have large galleries and only 6 lanes. I would love to have W&L build a state of the art 50 meter facility and I would happily support the effort financially. If the reality is that difficult choices need to be made, however, I would advocate focusing on the things that really support the success of the program and greater community on a daily basis. Examples might be building a 50 meter pool rather than a stretch pool, prioritizing space for dryland activities and equipment storage, faculty locker rooms, a proper environment for divers, etc. Most pools are only used a few days of the year for meets but are used throughout the year for recreation and practice. If there is going to be a redesign, I would advocate a focus on the swimmers, coaches, and greater W&L community rather than the lure of hosting big meets.
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For the benefit of the entire Washington and Lee University family of today and tomorrow, the undersigned W&L Alumni respectfully request that the Board of Trustees reconsider the current construction plans for the new natatorium (http://news.blogs.wlu.edu/2013/10/21/wl-board-selects-site-for-new-natatorium) in favor of a 50 meter by 25 yard facility.
While the currently-planned 39.3 meter by 25 yard (“25 meter stretch”) facility would certainly be an improvement over the existing Cy Twombly natatorium, we believe the combination of Non Incautus Futuri and the long-unmet facility needs of one of the most successful athletic programs at Washington and Lee compels the conclusion that a 50 meter by 25 yard pool would best serve the current and future generations of Washington and Lee students. A 50 meter by 25 yard facility would be in line with the University’s "done the right way" standard for athletic facilities which has yielded the renovation/new construction of Wilson Field, W&L Turf Field, Alston Parker Watt Field, Cap'n Dick Smith Field, Dick Miller Cross Country Course, Duchossois Tennis Center, etc. Specifically, as compared to a 25 meter stretch pool, the construction of a 50 meter by 25 yard facility would:
· Greatly increase the University’s competitive, recreational and other programming flexibility;
· Improve W&L’s recruiting, training, and competition for any varsity or club aquatic sports, allowing W&L to compete with D-III “Top 10” programs;
· Enable W&L to host BMAC championship meets and combined ODAC championship meets; and
· Be consistent with W&L’s stature as a “leading national liberal arts university” and allow W&L to join the almost 50% of our academic/admissions peers who already have 50 meter by 25 yard pools and keep pace with like-minded peer institutions planning to build 50 meter by 25 yard pools that could raise that number to over 60% in the next 3-5 years.
We recognize there is incremental marginal cost to “doing it right.” Understood clearly, the decision to construct a 50 meter by 25 yard pool more than meets an objective cost-benefit analysis. We respectfully ask the University to an earnest effort to identify the additional marginal cost to make it a reality. We stand ready to assist in that effort. Beyond simply making this request for an aquatics facility “done the right way,” each of the undersigned pledges to support this effort financially.
Thank you for your diligent stewardship of our alma mater. We appreciate the decision to construct a 25 yard stretch pool was arrived at through considerable effort, guided by the best of intentions. At the very least, we ask the Trustees to give this issue additional consideration, with the benefit of the additional data and perspectives we can provide.
Thank you very much for your consideration. Go Generals!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 5, 2014
April 28, 2014
The petition reached one hundred signatures this morning. I am now drafting a formal letter to the Board of Trustees to outline our requirements for the natatorium project.
Reached 100 supporters
April 25, 2014
7 Comments
50 meters or bust. Don't settle for half measures when we have such a great swim program.
We need the space for warm ups during meets. The current plan is just way too small for what the team actually deserves.
My brother swam there years ago and it was always cramped. Doing it right the first time is just smarter than having to fix it later.
Go big or go home. W&L should have the best pool in the conference if we are bothering to build it at all.
Exactly. Why build a new facility that is already behind the times compared to other schools? Makes no sense.
I think we need to be really specific about why we need the longer pool. Non-swimmers have no idea why it makes a difference. We can help with that! We need to explain why swimmers need additional warm-up/warm-down space, how championship meets are set-up and run, etc. Can others add help me with additional specifics?
As a parent of four swimmers, I attend many swim meets. 125 or more a year throughout many different states is a typical year. With that background, I can agree wholeheartedly that W&L's current facility is a liability to the success of the aquatics programs and needs to be replaced as soon as is practical. When it comes to the standard employed for it being "done the right way" however, it gets a little complicated. There is almost always a tradeoff between the needs of hosting a sizeable meet (spectator seating, deck space, office space for officials, etc.) and the everyday needs of the program. I regularly go to facilities where it is obvious that difficult choices needed to be made due to space or budget considerations. For example, Wesleyan has a beautiful 50 meter pool but only about 350 seats in the gallery: a huge problem when they try to host a state or conference meet. Other pools have large galleries and only 6 lanes. I would love to have W&L build a state of the art 50 meter facility and I would happily support the effort financially. If the reality is that difficult choices need to be made, however, I would advocate focusing on the things that really support the success of the program and greater community on a daily basis. Examples might be building a 50 meter pool rather than a stretch pool, prioritizing space for dryland activities and equipment storage, faculty locker rooms, a proper environment for divers, etc. Most pools are only used a few days of the year for meets but are used throughout the year for recreation and practice. If there is going to be a redesign, I would advocate a focus on the swimmers, coaches, and greater W&L community rather than the lure of hosting big meets.
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50 meters or bust. Don't settle for half measures when we have such a great swim program.