Trustees OK Athletic Upgrades
March 15, 2010
Trustees OK Soccer, Baseball Projects At the March quarterly meeting, Cal U's Council of Trustees voted to seek $5 million in bond financing to create a soccer complex at the Philipsburg athletic field and build a new baseball practice field at Roadman Park. The project would create a soccer complex including a field with an artificial surface, lighting for nighttime events and a paved parking area at the former Philipsburg School, near the main campus. The old booster building would be renovated to house men¹s and women¹s locker rooms, a ticket kiosk, public restrooms and other facilities. This will be a milestone achievement for our program, said 25th-year men's soccer coach Dennis Laskey, who also serves as the director of soccer operations. Last fall, Cal U's women's soccer team won an NCAA Regional championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The men's team won the PSAC championship two seasons ago. The project also would replace Cal U's baseball practice field, which was removed during construction of the Roadman Park Lot that opened last fall. The Vulcans baseball team will continue to play its home games at Consol Energy Park, near Washington, Pa. The practice field, near the new tennis courts, will be used for summer camps as well as varsity practices. Enrollment for spring has increased by more than 7 percent over last spring's headcount, reported Provost Geraldine Jones. The University continues to do well under trying circumstances, President Angelo Armenti, Jr. told the Trustees. That has been a result of a lot of hard work by many people, a great entrepreneurial spirit and finding alternative sources of revenue. Despite the great things happening at the University, our students continue to struggle to pay their tuition, he added. Our greatest need continues to be for privately raised scholarship dollars for our students. Reports from each of the University's vice presidents highlighted success stories in their respective areas. As a group and as a University, we are doing an excellent job, said Trustees Chairman Leo Krantz. The next Council of Trustees meeting is scheduled for June 2.