{"id":82220,"date":"2024-10-11T08:38:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T13:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=82220"},"modified":"2024-10-11T08:38:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T13:38:50","slug":"sga-hears-updates-on-library-renovation-and-new-athletic-complex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=82220","title":{"rendered":"SGA hears updates on library renovation and new athletic complex"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By RAEGAN NEUFELD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Student Government Association heard updates on current and upcoming projects at Fort Hays State University at its meeting on Thursday, specifically about the funding for the projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President and CEO of the FHSU Foundation Jason Williby spoke about the projects, touching on the Forsyth Library renovation, the new Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex and a future renovation of Malloy Hall. The Foundation is currently raising $3 million for the library and $11.5 million for the athletics complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williby explained that a majority of funding for the library is coming from federal grants and university savings, but the athletic complex is being funded solely by donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAthletic buildings can be built with your tuition money, but they won’t be under President Mason,\u201d he said. \u201cThey can’t be built with state money, so donors are supplying the entire amount of money it costs to build the Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first time since the library was built in 1967 that it has undergone such a large renovation. According to Williby, every alumnus he\u2019s given a tour to has said it looks the same as it did when they were in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was in desperate need of updating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More on the library renovation can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new athletic complex will include a larger locker room for the football team, coaches’ offices, meeting rooms and a larger sports medicine room. A groundbreaking ceremony<\/a> for the project took place earlier this month, and it is on track to be completed in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Foundation was also tasked to begin fundraising for a renovation of Malloy Hall over the next year. Williby said he expects a large-scale renovation of the building in three or four years that improve health and safety, air management and aesthetic issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe expect donors are going to see the need and they\u2019re going to step forward to help us fund it,\u201d Williby said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to raising money for scholarships every year, the Foundation also runs a campaign called \u201cI Fed the Tiger\u201d each fall. Through this campaign, donors can give money to student organizations and clubs, either for specific projects or general funds. SGA President Ella Burrows said last week that the money donated to SGA will go towards the Big Event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m hoping we can get some extra money to get supplies, like our own sets of gloves for the Big Event,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the open forum section of the meeting, Sen. Marcell Dely posed a question from the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee about raising money for people in Florida and other areas affected by recent hurricanes. According to Dely, who is on the wrestling team, a number of athletes and coaches have families in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy head coach\u2019s family is from there,\u201d he said. \u201cThey don\u2019t have electricity and they lost lots of their clothes and food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burrows said SGA could potentially partner with the committee to hold a fundraising event if they are interested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other SGA news<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n