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NEWS
Board of Governors gives go-ahead for new locker rooms, band facility
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University's men's and women's basketball teams may be getting some new locker rooms.
The University's Board of Governors on Thursday approved the construction of the new locker rooms, contingent upon the work costing no more than the $2.1 million budgeted for the project.
Board member Michael Perry made the motion to approve the plan, but he said he is concerned that there won't be money to pay for it.
"We can't keep obligating ourselves for projects that don't have money," Perry said.
There is $200,000 in the bank for the project and there are commitments for more money, said Ron Area, senior vice president for development and chief executive officer for the Marshall University Foundation. He said he is "very optimistic" the money could be raised.
The current locker rooms were constructed in 1981. The new locker rooms would be constructed in the existing, unoccupied space under the south spectator main stands in the Cam Henderson Center.
In addition to private donations, facilities fee revenue from ticket sales would be used to fund the project.
The Board of Governors also approved the renovation of the Henderson Center weight room and auxiliary gym into a classroom for the marching band, which currently has 300 students. This also includes the construction of an adjacent storage building for band equipment and the installation of a sprinkler system on the field north of the new recreational center that will be designated as the marching band practice field.
"This is the largest class we've had at Marshall University," said Don Van Horn, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "We perform, but it's first and foremost a class."
The total cost of the project is estimated at about $246,000. Van Horn said he has talked to the Marshall University Foundation about fundraising and hopes to have the money in the bank before construction would start in the spring. He anticipates it being done for the start of the 2009 fall semester.
"We tend to see them as a band on the field, but it is a class," said Board of Governors member Verna Gibson.
The Board of Governors swore in two new members at its meeting Thursday. Randall Tomblin is the new student member, and Dr. Joseph Touma is a new citizen member. Prior to this appointment, Touma served as the chair of the Marshall University Foundation Board of Directors.
