This week, an important step for students was taken in what has become the saga of Ohio University’s multipurpose center.
Control of the project was shifted away from Director of Athletics Jim Schaus and his department and into the hands of Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi and his department.
That is significant for students, as they found out this summer that their General Fee dollars would be used to fund an indoor track in the new building.
As far as student interest, the power shift is a step in the right direction for a project that got off to a questionable start.
Originally, the multipurpose center was to be paid for by an $8 million gift and an additional $3.1 million raised by Athletics. The plans were then altered to include a four-lane indoor track, but that pushed the project’s budget $1.5 million further than had been planned.
The extra money will come from the General Fee, giving students an extra interest in a project that was going to be controlled primarily by Athletics. But now, the facility is under the thumb of Student Affairs, with other project stakeholders including Athletics, intramural sports and maintenance.
The new development means the majority of students can expect better representation when it comes to their access to the new building.
It goes without saying that the new facility will provide an advantage to our increasingly successful athletic programs. But it’s a matter of who’s footing the bill. Questions that still need answers are how exactly students will get to use the facility, how often they’ll be able to use it and just how many multiple purposes it provides.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors.
