Anchorage Daily News

Just last weekend, UAA celebrated one of the most successful days in Seawolf sports history. The track and field teams set nine school records. The ski team finished eighth in the United States. And both the women's and men's basketball teams set school records for the number of wins in a single season, and are headed to compete in the NCAA Division II national tournaments this weekend -- with the men hosting the championship right here on their home court.

While UAA's athletes are excelling in their respective sports, the facility they practice and play in isn't scoring high with anyone. The Wells Fargo Sports Complex was built more than 30 years ago for a community college with a few thousand students. Today this aging facility tries to serve the diverse needs of 15,000 students, as well as a community of nearly 300,000.

It is time for the community to recognize the needs of an expanding university and build adequate facilities to meet our needs. The Seawolves have drawn record crowds this year, but many fans have been turned away at the door because of the sports center's limited seating capacity, which is by far the least in the entire Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Seating capacity is only one of many deficiencies. Locker room facilities are insufficient. The entire gymnastics program is housed off-campus. Home hockey games must be played in a rented off-campus facility. Storage and office space is severely lacking. Parking is inadequate. And there is not time or space to accommodate the needs of all user groups, including student athletes, intramural teams, recreational users, students, faculty and community members.

Going beyond athletics, the inadequate facility also detracts from UAA's academic performance. There is no classroom space in the sports center, despite a thriving health, physical education and recreation major. And the teaching facilities that are available are overcrowded, offering only 64 square feet per student, compared with the recommended minimum of 125 square feet.

Solutions to this problem have been discussed since at least 1990, when an analysis first determined that UAA was getting significantly low on space for current enrollment levels. The need has only grown over the past 18 years; however, no long-term solution has ever been reached.

Today, UAA is faced with an exciting opportunity to design and construct a new sports arena, one that would provide the space, facilities and equipment our intercollegiate teams need to succeed. Adequate parking and seating for fans. And sufficient resources to accommodate classes, recreation and intramural activities, as well as other community and campus events, such as commencement, which has never been held on campus.

Public support for a project like this is strong. A recent poll showed 85 percent of people thought UAA sports were important or very important for the Anchorage community. Eighty-four percent said a new facility would improve UAA sports programs, and 83 percent said it would make UAA more attractive to prospective students.

This project will offer many benefits to current and future students, as well as the university and community at large, which is why it has been made a part of UAA's long-term strategic plan. A new sports facility promises to increase UAA's visibility and reputation, both instate and out, and make UAA a more attractive option, not only for out-of-state students but to keep Alaska's best and brightest here at home for their education. It will also create a more vibrant campus life, which improves student satisfaction and retention. It will offer more opportunities for the community and strengthen our academic offerings.

The need is clear. The benefits are clear. And the students, campus and community can't wait another 20 years for a solution. The time to act is now.

Arliss Sturgulewski is a former state senator and a longtime Seawolves hockey fan. She serves on the UAA chancellor's advisory committee.

ADVERTISEMENT