It was a beautiful, picturesque fall day for what was an exciting and historic moment for The College of Wooster and Fighting Scots athletics. On Friday, Oct. 22, Lowry back patio was host to the Scot Center Beam Signing, giving the chance for many to leave a lasting mark on the new athletic and campus facility by signing a huge white metal beam. The beam, now graced with signatures galore, will be visible near the entrance of the new 123,000 square foot Scot Center, which is scheduled to open in January 2012.
The celebration commenced with complementary cider and doughnuts, which went quick as ambitious students gathered to start off what was sure to be a great weekend. Athletes in and out of season joined the company of other students, faculty, administrators and the Board of Trustees, all whom were eager to leave their mark on the gigantic beam. President Grant Cornwell kicked off the celebration with some truly poetic words, describing that we were about to watch the beam, “rise like a phoenix,” as it would be lifted by a crane from the work site and placed on the patio. He emphasized that the Scot center was due to the, “vision and generosity of the Board of Trustees,” a sincere round of applause followed.† Although the new Scot Center is primarily an athletic facility, the President stressed that it will be, “an important addition for every student at the college.”
Following President Cornwell’s address, Abby Smanik ’11 of the Student Government Association emphasized the thanks we all owe to the Board of Trustees for making the idea of the Scot center a reality. Smanik then passed the microphone to Brandon Jacobs ë11, President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.† In a quite poetic speech, Brandon further echoed the words of President Cornwell and Smanik, expressing his thanks to everyone involved in the project, and what a proud day it was to be a Fighting Scot athlete, supporter or student at Wooster. When Jacobs concluded, the beam was lowered down onto the patio while a bagpiper played the hair-raising tune associated with the College and Fighting Scots, just as if the beam was Longshanks and the crowd was Wallace’s army.
The Board of Trustees and administrators were the first ones to leave their mark on the gigantic white beam, which suddenly appeared a lot bigger the closer it came. Not a moment after the announcement was made for students to sign the beam, the board and administration looked quick on their feet while escaping the stampede of students, athletes and supporters. The white beam rapidly began to look more zebra-esque as signatures filled in the absence of color. Joe Suliman ’11 expressed how excitd he was to have the opportunity to sign the beam. He said, “even though I am a senior and won’t be able to use the new facility while being a student, I know my mark will be left on the new Scot Center and Fighting Scots Athletics.”
The day could not have been any better for the Scot Center Beam signing. Students had another opportunity to sign the beam in front of Lowry on Monday, Oct. 25.