Leonard Center opens
Macalester's new athletic and wellness facility, the Leonard Center, opened its doors on Aug. 11, weeks before classes begin on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The facility is named in honor of the late George P. Leonard '27 and his wife Wilma Fox Leonard '27 and their descendants who have been long-time supporters of Macalester. It features a 200-meter indoor track, a 10-lane pool (see story below), a gym that seats 1200-1600 people, a fitness center, and a lounge and snack bar. The center also houses Macalester's health and wellness services, formerly located on the corner of Snelling and Grand.
A campus-only grand opening celebration is planned for 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Another opening event for the wider Macalester community, including alumni, parents and friends of the college, will be part of the Step Forward Celebration happening Oct. 10-11.
Special memberships to the Leonard Center are being offered to alumni. For one year after graduation, alumni are eligible for free membership. Alumni who graduated more than a year ago may purchase one-year memberships for $240.
· View photos of the completed Leonard Center
· More about memberships
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Pool named after Doug Riley '71
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| Doug Riley '71 and his son Daren visiting the Macalester's pool under construction in April. |
Omaha businessman, entrepreneur and former varsity swimmer H. Douglas Riley '71 and members of his family have donated $1 million to the new pool in the Leonard Center, the new athletic and wellness facility that opened this month. The pool will be named the Riley Pool in their honor.
Riley swam for the Scots when he attended Macalester and continues to swim three to five miles a week. He said two open-heart surgeries to repair an aortic valve have made continuous exercise even more important. "Swimming makes me feel and think better," he explained. "It's been very therapeutic for me. It resets the counters. I will get in the pool and focus. I love pools."
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The completed Riley Pool.
Photo: Andy Johnson. |
The new pool includes 8-10 lanes for lap and competitive swimming, a configuration allowing swimmers and divers to practice simultaneously and a 25-yard-long water polo course. It also features an off-deck viewing area and an expanded shallow area for teaching purposes and water-based fitness classes.
Riley said that his desire to make a difference at Macalester and his love of swimming were all considerations in his family's decision to make the gift.
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College video contest offers $2,500 alumni prize
Alumni are invited to enter the college video contest being held in conjunction with the Step Forward Celebration happening Oct. 10-11. The prize for the best original, short video made by alumni is $2,500. Current students are eligible to compete for the $5,000 top prize and two $2,500 prizes for most humorous and most creative.
Entry videos will be judged for how well they exemplify the Macalester experience and the videomaker's hopes for the future of the college. All in less than five minutes. The winning videos will be presented during the October celebration.
The deadline for entries is Sept. 15. The videos will then be judged by a panel of faculty, staff and alumni experts including Peter Berg '84, the Class of 2008's commencement speaker and director of the summer hit, Hancock.
· More about the Step Forward Video Contest
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President Brian Rosenberg appointed to Chronicle of Higher Education and New York Times higher education cabinet
Last month, President Brian Rosenberg accepted an invitation from the Chronicle of Higher Education and New York Times to join the two publications' inaugural Higher Education Cabinet. He was one of 57 college, university and education association presidents invited to serve on the cabinet that will convene frequently to identify key issues and trends in higher education. The first meeting will be held on Sept. 15, at The New York Times headquarters in New York.
Rosenberg's new role on the cabinet is yet another way he serves within the higher education community. He is a member of the Leadership Circle of the Presidents Climate Commitment, chair of the Presidents' Council of Project Pericles, and chair of the Commission on International Initiatives of the American Council on Education. Recently, he served as chair of the board of the Minnesota Private College Council.
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