Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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An old favorite takes on a new meaning Blatt P.E. Center draws community despite new wellness center opening BY KEVIN FELLNER THE GAMECOCK While taking advantage of hav ing one of the most elaborate and furnished student fitness centers here at USC, it’s easy to forget that the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center doesn’t have the market cornered on student recreation facilities. On a typical day, the Blatt Physical Education Center still sees more than 2,000 visitors, mak ing it a popular choice for large group activities and use by the public. The Blatt is also the site of some 41 exercise-science classes every week. “The numbers have definitely decreased,” said Latasha Harris, a second-year exercise-science stu dent who has worked part-time staffing the Blatt’s front desk since before the wellness center’s open ing. “It’s fewer students and more people coming, like, from Dreher High School for practice after school.” Harris’ comments are reflected -in the Blatt’s logbook, where staffers keep a tally of how many visitors enter every hour. On a Thursday afternoon from 5 to 6, a Dreher High School swim team practice contributes to the second busiest hour of the day with 275 entrants. Harris also said the late afternoon appears to be a popular time for students to exercise. “The Blatt is still a very useful facility that students still enjoy,” said Jerry Brewer, director of stu dent life. He added that the ad ministration and related depart ments are adamant about keeping the Blatt in use because USC is ac tually below the national average on square footage used for student recreation space for a university this size. The two on-campus recreation al facilities occupy a combined to tal of a little more than 400,000 square feet. That works out to be about 16 square feet of recreation space per student, or less than one fifth the size of most dorm rooms on campus. “So really we don’t have enough space to do all the things we need to do to accommodate our students,” Brewer said. When it comes to amenities, the wellness center can’t be matched on campus. The center outdoes the Blatt with its 75 pieces of cardio vascular equipment, 130 strength training stations, indoor and out door pools, 52-foot rock climbing wall, indoor track and beach vol leyball courts. The Blatt offers two more racquetball courts than the wellness center and a competitive swimming and diving facility but falls short almost everywhere else. What the Blatt does have is easy access. Guests can be signed in for $3.00 if accompanied by a student. Annual family memberships can run as low as $40. It’s a sharp con trast to the wellness center’s $360 annual membership. But the administration might be narrowing the amenities gap in the next few years. Brewer said now that the center is fully opera tional, the decrease in daily con gestion at the Blatt will make it more easily accessible for updat ing amenities. He said some of the priority projects are to repaint most walls and replace the floor ing on the four basketball courts. “We’re going to be looking at making the entire second floor with the weight room and basket ball courts much more aestheti cally pleasing,” Brewer said. He said most of the updating would happen in shifts and that they still have some planning before they can commence. Until then, Brewer said, the two facilities would coexist as the uni versity’s principle recreation ar eas. “What you’ll see is those facili ties coordinate recreation and work together on what activities will be held where, but I thin! j we’ll see the evolution through ' this year that they’ll work well to gether,” he said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com BRIEFLY Organization seeks student tour guides University Ambassadors, the student organization responsible for giving tours to prospective students and their families, is ac cepting applications for mem bership. Information sessions will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept 16 at 6 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the USC Visitor Center in the Carolina Plaza building. There will be a brief presentation, and applications will be dis tributed. Any full-time USC student with at least a 2.5 GPA is eligible for membership. For more infor mation, contact the Visitor Center at 777-0169 or by e-mail at visitor@sc.edu. Km* seal Friday, Sept. 5 E AUTO BREAK-IN, PETTY LARCENY OF CD PLAYER, 103 S. MARION ST The victim said someone broke the passenger-side window and took a silver extreme sound CD player from the console of the victim’s car. Reporting officer: S. Alexander. G DISORDERLY CONDUCT, 614 MAIN ST. Reporting officer D. Hare responded to a call of civil disturbance and complaint of a person discharging a fire hose. The subject, Michael Regan Deering, matched the description given by a resident adviser. Police said Deering was bleeding and had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages, blood shot eyes and slurred speech. Police said Deering stated he was very drunk. Deering was arrested for disorderly conduct and read his rights. Police said several witnesses gave written and oral statements that Deering destroyed property and discharged fire hoses. Police said Deering admitted damage on interior of the building. © ILLEGAL USE OF TELEPHONE (HARASSING), 1405 WHALEY ST. The victim said that someone called her residence twice making obscene comments. The victim said that these calls have made her upset and nervous. Reporting officer: J.M. Simmons. © LARCENY OF PLAYSTATION, 1323 GREENEST. The victim said someone took his Playstation 2 with two controllers and an adapter. Estimated Value: $375. Reporting officer: J.D. Rosier. Saturday, Sept. 6 MINOR IN POSSESSION OF LIQUOR, POSSESSION OF MULTIPLE IDS, 1000 GEORGE ROGERS BLVD. (OFF MAP) Police said Christopher Lee Stacey was observed by a safety security officer having a large bulge under his windbreaker. The officer pointed Stacy out to reporting officer J. Claypoole. Claypoole asked Stacey what he had in his jacket, and Stacey produced a large bottle of Evan Williams Whiskey. Claypoole asked Stacey for identification. Stacey provided an ID and Claypoole saw an additional license in his wallet. Police said Stacey admitted to having a fake ID and then produced another South Carolina driver’s license. In total, Stacey had possession of four drivers’ licenses. Sunday, Sept. 7 ® ACT OF NATURE, B-3 PARKING LOT, 1511 PENDLETON ST. The victim said a large tree fell onto his legally parked car. There was major damage to the victim’s car. USC Grounds Services removed a section of the tree. Reporting officer: R.A. Whitlock. o SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, CAPSTONE HOUSE, 902 BARNWELL ST. Shanniece Delcia George, who is a guard for Sizemore Security, gave her Sizemore uniform shirt to Gregory T. Thompson, Michael Gene Harten, William Lam and Roni Seedom. The subjects wore the shirt to pose as a Sizemore employee, while another would pose as a resident adviser, and they attempted to gain access to several rooms on the seventh floor. The real on duty RA was contacted and completed a housing incident report. Cpt. Cisse with Sizemore Security was contacted and responded to the scene where he relieved the guard of her duties. Student discipline was initiated via e-mail to Scott Lewis on the four students. Andy Fink of housing was notified. Q LARCENY OF CELL PHONE, RUSSELL HOUSE AREA, 1400 GREENEST The victim said someone took her cell phone from either her office or store area. The phone is a black Nokia. Estimated value: $100 Reporting officer: J.A. Clarke. Monday, Sept. 8 © MALICIOUS INJURY TO REAL PROPERTY, 700 PICKENS ST. The complainant told the USCPD about graffiti at the Pickens Street Bridge. Reporting officer J. A. Clarke went to investigate and photographed the area. Several photos were taken of graffiti, which was green spray paint in a small location at bridge. Minimal damage. O SIMPLE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, POSSESSION OF LI0U0R BY PERSON UNDER 21, POSSESSION OF ALTERED DRIVER’S LICENSE, PRESTON COLLEGE, 1323 GREENEST. Reporting officers G. Kerwin and R.B. Baker answered a call to Preston College in reference to possible marijuana use. The officers made contact with the resident adviser, and she took them to the room. The resident adviser said there was a report of a bag over the smoke detector in the room of Tobias Gavin Ward III. Officers made contact with the subject at the room. Officers performed a health and safety search of the room. A strong scent of burnt incense was present. Officers asked Ward if there was anything illegal in the room. Ward showed them empty* liquor bottles, a glass multi- r colored pipe with residue in it, marijuana, a large bong, liquor and an altered identification. © DISORDERLY CONDUCT, MAIN AND WHALEY STREETS Reporting officer G. Kerwin responded to a store parking lot for a possible drunken driver. Another officer pointed out the subject, Loren Moody. Kerwin went over to Moody and asked him what was going on. Police said Moody said someone cut him off, so he went into the parking lot to say something to the driver that had cut him off. Moody appeared to have been drinking. His eyes were slightly* red, and he had a slight smell of alcohol on his breath. Kerwin tried to administer a filed sobriety test. Kerwin said Moody became boisterous and used profanity. Moody was arrested for disorderly conduct. THE GAMECOCK WWW. dailygamecock. com : ' ■/'■pi Nobody covers use better POLICE REPORT These reports are taken directly from the USC Police Department Compiled by Adam Beam. / Each number on the map stands fora crime corresponding with numbered descriptions in the list below. DAY CRIMES j k (6a.m.-6p.m.) r □ Violent O Nonviolent NIGHT CRIMES (6 p.m.-6a.m.) ■ Violent # Nonviolent CRIMES AT UNKNOWN HOURS □ Violent © Nonviolent Ring Week $ept. 22-26 1 Qam-4pm 1 st floor of the Russell House ' -.—.— -. .— ' —— — —. . 1 ...... ——1