Ohio University officials don’t know exactly how the Sook Center, an academic building exclusively for athletes and donors, will ultimately be funded.
Ohio University officials don’t know exactly how the Sook Center, an academic building exclusively for athletes and donors, will ultimately be funded.
It calls into question whether student general fee money will be used, as it was for the Walter Fieldhouse. The fieldhouse was originally intended to be built with only donations, but officials used student money to finish construction and maintain the building.
The student general fee on the Athens campus for the 2014-15 academic year is $628 per semester.
“It is too early to know all the details on how every aspect of this proposed project will addressed,” said Jim Schaus, director of Ohio Athletics, in an email.
Athletics more than $20 million budget draws largely from the General Fee.
Schaus and others have previously said the construction of the center — estimated at $5.5 million — will only be paid for with donations.
So far, Perry and Sandy Sook, two OU alumni, have given $2.25 million to name the building. It is the only donation for the building so far.
“I wouldn’t let it happen unless it was very beneficial for everyone,” said Olivia Art, a freshman studying pre-physical therapy, on student money supporting the center.
The proposed Sook Center, a building adjacent to Peden Stadium’s north end-zone, comes the same year the Walter Fieldhouse was dedicated.
Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs, the department that oversees the fieldhouse, said he is “not involved” with the Sook Center and could not answer questions about any plans to use student money to fund the center.
Officials still need to secure $3.25 million.
The Ohio Bobcat Club will raise that money by providing naming rights for the classrooms, lounges and study rooms.
The most expensive rooms to name (for $500,000) are the 1st Floor Plaza, Classroom, Computer Lab, and the Patio/Observation Deck.
The Observation Deck and 1st Floor Plaza will be used by donors to watch the football games at Peden Stadium.
The Plaza will offer game day activities, concession stands and additional restrooms. The Sook Center will be a “donor hospitality area” during games at Peden, according to OU Athletic Department’s website.
“We greatly appreciate the services we have, but the space is definitely limited,” wrote Adele Sammons, an OU field hockey player, in a pamphlet the university distributed to potential Sook Center donors. “We need this facility to help create a new and exciting environment for us to further develop and have the necessary resources to be successful.”
Correction: A previous version of this article said Adele Sammons was OU's field hockey coach. She is a field hockey player. The Post regrets the error.
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