University of Virginia Library

Memorial Pool:
Health Hazard

By Jack Wilson

Mr. Wilson, a fourth year Architecture
student, was Co-Captain of
the 1967-68 Swimming team and is
a member of the Student Athletic
Council.

The greatest hope for a Virginia
swimmer is not only to have
first-class swimming facilities, but
to leave the algae-ridden waves and
cock-roach infested halls of
Memorial Gym. This hope has been
on the swimming horizon for at
least five years, but we seem to be
getting darkness instead of daylight.

The crucial problem with our
present pool is not the fact that the
water is green, the walls are
slippery, and all the spectators
sweat to death, but the fact that
our pool is a health hazard. Any
layman can recognize that the
water is improperly filtered and the
deck is crawling with insects. Even
a moderate health examination
could prove embarrassing to the
University. One reason for this
problem is the antiquated filtration
system. Not only are the filters and
pipes rusty, but the pump is unable
to circulate the water fast enough
to meet the large demand of pool
users. Another reason is that pools
as old as ours need full time
attention. At present, a member of
the swimming team is being paid to
maintain the pool during his spare
time. But, the University has
already allocated funds for the
pool's renovation! Such a step
would be as effective as putting a
mini-skirt on your grandmother.
Thus, it seems that not only is the
whole pool area pitifully obsolete,
but the University has shown us
that it cannot maintain the pool
properly.

Obviously, the University needs
a new pool with more efficient
equipment to handle, with the old
pool, the increased swimming load
caused by both expansion and
co-education. Unfortunately, this
alternative might now be termed a
new, obsolete pool. Because so
much time has elapsed before
moving ahead with the pool project,
building costs have risen
causing a reduction in pool size
from eight lanes to six lanes. Since
most other schools now build eight
land pools, a six land pool will be
obsolete as soon as swimming meets
become oriented around this new
width.

The task now is not to complain
about the slowness of the University
at a time of rising prices, but to
act quickly before these prices get
out of reach. Also, we must make
concrete progress toward a new
pool by October, otherwise the
federal government will rescind its
three hundred thousand ($300,000)
grant. Meanwhile, the necessity of
an eight lane pool must remain a
paramount objective. The architect
predicts that such a pool will cost
one and one half million dollars
($1,500,000) under the present
design. Director of University Planning,
Werner Sensbach, told me
that approximately $1.25 - $1.3
million is now available through the
federal grant and local funds. There
are two ways of minimizing the
approximate $200,000 - $250,000
deficit. First, the design itself can
be streamlined. By reducing the
excavation, by moving the structural
columns inward to lessen the
span of the main structural members,
and by shrinking the diving
pool and moving the boards to the
side, an estimated $100,000 dollars
can be saved. Second, we must
campaign both to the swimming
alumni and to President Shannon.
Certainly a portion of the amount
can be obtained from donations,
but $100,000 dollars is a sizable
request for such a small group to
raise. It seems logical, however, that
if the swimmers can genuinely
express their concern for a situation
which will seriously handicap the
athletic future of the University,
then the University should reciprocate
by showing the swimmers how
deeply their concern has been
appreciated. President Shannon, I
offer this suggestion to you.