Students debate over Dixon Center rental

by Brian O'Connell assistant sports editor

The Dixon Center has become very popular, not only to Cabrini students, but also to the surrounding schools in the Radnor area.

Cabrini students may find the flexible schedule they are used to has tightened up a bit.

Schools such as Archbishop Carroll High School, Shipley High School and Delaware County Community College are making use of the newly constructed facility.

These schools, except for Carroll, pay fees for use of the Dixon Center. But where does all of this money go?

"The money paid by these schools goes directly to Cabrini," said Tony Verde, associate professor of sports science.

"The Shipley School and Agnes Irwin use the pool for practices and meets," Verde said. "Agnes Irwin also uses the squash courts during the week, because they do not have their own squash courts."

Though these schools pay fees to use the center, Carroll and Cabrini made a trade for the use of each other's facilities.

"We do not charge Carroll a fee for use of the Dixon Center because our women's softball team uses their softball field for practices and games in exchange for their use of our pool," Verde said.

With all of this activity taking place every week, it seems that it could be very difficult for Cabrini students to make use of their own on-campus facility.

Some students do not like the idea of other high schools and colleges making use of the Dixon Center and feel Cabrini students should have fast priority.

"I never liked the idea of the intramural teams and other schools using the Dixon Center," said sophomore Jess Huda.

"How are we supposed to appreciate the new facility when other schools are constantly using it?" Huda said.

Huda is also a member of the Campus Activities and Programming Board. She said that they have attempted to plan some of the campus activities in the Dixon Center, but are unable to do it because they often run into conflicts with other schools using the facility.

"We try to schedule student events in the Dixon Center, but we can't always rely on it being open to accommodate us," Huda said.

However, for some, it is no problem finding an available basketball court or workout machine in the gym.

"I usually spend my time in the gym," said sophomore Elizabeth Kyle. "I never really find anything unavailable that I want to use."

Currently, the pool is rented out between the hours of 3-5 p.m. each day and the squash courts are reserved from 4pm to 7 p.m.