From the Exponent archives: Campus preps to flood athletic field for ice rink

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the Exponent on Jan. 19, 1932. The old Gatton field used to be located roughly where Rendezvous Dining Hall currently is.

Warm weather of the last few days has considerably dampened the enthusiasm for the college ice skating rink project launched by the Interfraternity Council last week. The rink will be sprinkled at intervals during this week. More student volunteer labor will be needed to complete the necessary preliminary work according to Gordon Pappin, president of the Council.

Plans for flooding the lower athletic field, known as the old Gatton field, were first proposed at a special meeting of the Interfraternity Council held last Friday at the Sigma Chi house. The Independent organization on the campus was represented at the meeting and offered the cooperation of that body in the plan. Details of the project are being worked out by a committee within the Interfraternity Council under the chairmanship of John Coey.

Student cooperation

Saturday morning representatives of the various organizations and independents assisted the staff of the Physical Plant of the College in clearing the snow and banking the proposed rink preparatory to flooding. The cooperation of the Physical Plant until the completion of the rink was promised by President Atkinson in a conference with John Coey, president of the Associated Students. 

It is planned to have the Interfraternity Council carry out the preliminary organization and start the rink in operation and later turn it over to the Associated Students through the Student Senate. A great deal of expense is not expected to be incurred in the operation of the rink. In case the financial side of the matter should prove a considerable undertaking, it is planned at this time to secure donations and to avoid as far as possible taxing the students by voluntary subscriptions.

One of the primary objects of the skating rink is to provide an opportunity for students to receive recreation advantages during the winter months at a minimum of expense.