Flyer

Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News

The Lewis soccer field. A stadium would attract a larger audience and allow people to find a seat at soccer games as opposed to sitting at the soccer field.

The Lewis track oval. Due to a lack of space, the track team cannot host a conference meet at Lewis. If a stadium was built, the team would be able to host them.

Lewis University is growing and looking at expanding in the next few years. Not only does Lewis want to expand by building more dorms, and academic buildings, it is looking to increase student enrollment as well.

As a Division II school, Lewis already offers a variety of competitive sports for students to participate in. With a growing number of students there is also a growing interest in other sports like football, badminton and lacrosse. With the increase of more dorms and academics there is also a plan to develop the athletic program.

Dan Schumacher, Athletic director at Lewis, believes that building a stadium, which would be located on the south end of campus by route 53 and Renwick Road, will help with the expansion of Lewis and help the athletic department. Schumacher said, "The new stadium will not just be used for the expansion of Varsity sports, it will act as an additional facility for the wellness center."

Some college athletes fear that with the addition of bigger teams like football, other teams will be cut. However Dan Schumacher said, "Creating new teams will not cut any other team's budget or sport, I plan on expanding the athletic department and that means that no sport, men's or woman's, will be cut."

This stadium would also benefit outdoor sports like track and soccer, and will serve as a solid start for the possibility of a football team. Schumacher said, "The track team cannot host a conference meet here at Lewis because we do not have enough seating and enough space to hold all the teams and spectators in the field house. With the new stadium, track will be able to host conferences."

Becky Herbert, a member of the Lewis track team, said of the proposed stadium, "We would be able to host more track meets, which would bring more money to the Lewis track program. I think if we get this new stadium it will benefit the school in many ways."

Craig McIntosh, a soccer player at Lewis said, "The stadium will definitely attract a bigger audience, and people will be able to find a seat when they come and watch our games." Lewis cheerleader Jocqueline Wilson said, "I think both a stadium and a football team would allow cheerleaders more practice time because we would be able to cheer for the football team and we would be showing and practicing our skills."

The new stadium would also be open to the public. Students will be able to use the outdoor track just like they do now. The stadium will also be accessible for the use of the community.

Schumacher said, "The stadium will help improve enrollment because it will attract more students, prospective students will be attracted to our facilities. The stadium may also better the collegiate experience by providing activities such as going to football games on weekends, or going out and enjoying intramurals." Sophomore Dawn Brown agrees that a stadium will improve the college life. "I think that with a stadium and a football team more students will stay on campus on the weekends to support a football team or just to participate in activities that may be taken place in the stadium," she said.

Junior Adam Brown added, "One thing the stadium may also be used for is graduation. Right now graduation takes place in the field house and a stadium will have more than enough seating for a graduation."

The stadium will have to be built with the support of both students and staff. "We have sent out a survey to all students regarding what new sports they would like to see added to the Athletic Department. In order for us to go ahead and begin the process of building the stadium, we need the support of the student body," said Schumacher.

The e-mail was sent to all Lewis University students. In order for the stadium to be built, under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 the students must support and show an interest in building the stadium and adding new varsity teams. The emails have been sent to all Lewis University students and will be reviewed within the month.

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