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Show 2 Signpost Friday, April 25, 1986 mm Department seeks solution to leaks in water and sewage by Penny RowLee Staff Reporter The Swenson Gymnasium is having an ongoing battle of water. "The building doesn't have water problems, the water has building problems," said Dr. Myron Davis associate professor of the health, physical education, recreation, and dance department. Currently, there is water seeping through the cracks in the basement of the gym, said Dr. Gary Willden, chair of the HPERD department. "The board of health is aware of the problem and is not happy, but they are willing to work with the college," said Willden. "We don't anticipate any serious problems, so we are not going to start the work until June," Willden said. The college has a contract with the students to provide classes for them and the department asked the health department if they could wait until the quarter break to fix the problem, he said. The college has appropriated $25,000 for the excavation There appears to be a crack in a sewer pipe by the men's locker room and around the same area it appears that some silt has leaked its way into the pipes. "The water is contaminated, but we are keeping a close watch on it and it is not where students have to walk through it," Willden said. Austad brings clips of Norway by Mike Tupa Staff Reporter Mark Austad, a former Weber State studentbody president who went on to serve twice as a United States Ambassador, spoke Thursday at the convocation.His presentation was in the Austad Auditorium and included a few recollections of WSC and a film of his experiences as an ambassador in Norway. He said he still feels like a Weber student because "education begins after graduation." Noting the current election campaign for ASWSC offices, Austad recalled his own student election experiences back in 1941. His opponent in that year brought a fire engine on campus to attract publicity. Before beginning the film, Austad spoke about being in the auditorium which is named after himself. "It's sort of like looking at your own tombstone," he said. The film began with a 1980 tape ! - I ; I Signpost photo Rory fcasley Mark Austad recording of President Reagan's phone call to Austad asking him to be am-bassodor to Norway. Austad said this was a great thrill for him because he had been an LDS missionary there from 1936-39. Austad told the President "I've dreamed of this for 40 years." (See AUSTAD on page 3) Business Managaer Ken Hill Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Ass't News Editor Sports Editor Ass't Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Copy Editors Photo Editor Chief Photographer Photographers Advisor Publisher Rae Dawn Olbert Chris J. Miller Loretta Park JaNae Barlow Mike Coe Dave Allison Leona Vandre Linda Nimori Ann Stevenson Rory Easley Scott Miller Jeff Bybee Oscar Sosa Chris Loftus Larry Stahle Randolph J. Scott 1 Ass't Business Manager Advertising Agents Emilie Bean Bob George Production Managers Emilie Bean Jeannine Anderson Production Staff Staff Reporters Shawn Sturgeon Cheryl Watson LeAnn Parker Jay Watts Don Karmondy Ilene Wangsgard Mike Buck Cathe Guptill Robert Potts Brian Growcock Tanja Schaffer David Bird Doug Burch Jana Chesley Mikel Bowman Dana Hanson Penny RowLee Mike Tupa Matthew Madsen Debra Ann Moss Janet Bassett Jeanne Chadey Kathryn Ward Lynn Soltys Ann Dolan Willden said they are not certain what they will find until they begin the excavation. Plans have been submitted for the work. The problems in the gym began before it was actually built in 1962, ace-cording to Davis. When construction on the building began, cement was poured into a natural spring to cap it. The building was put lower in the ground than it should have been, in order to avoid cutting into the skyline, he said. About eight years ago, as minor leaks were discovered, engineers plugged them. This seemed to correct the problem, until water began coming out of a light switch in the basement, he said. There was a continual buildup of pressure until five years ago the weight room was lifted and water came through large cracks. The floor was repaired and a series of drains were installed beneath the floor and under the corridor in front of the racketball courts. The repaairs and drains cost approximately $55,000, according to Davis. A sump pump was installed to help carry the water away from the building at a cost of approximately $30,000, he said. Besides the cost, it requires constant maintenance or water will flood the basement weight room and raquetball courts. Flooding has occurred a few times but has been caught before any damage was done, he said. The next problems arose due to the eroding of the soil around and beneath the building. Most of the problems are more obvious in the basement men's locker room where cracks in the wall as large as an inch show where the building has settled. The door to the custodial room has needed to be replaced because it would not open and shut properly, Davis said. Also, the sidewalk on the south side of the gym began to drop and at a cost of $80,000 last fall, 26 well were dug to cure the shifting problem and seem to do their jobs, he said. However, due to the erosion of the foundation, some of the sewer lines outside of the building have broken causing water and sewage to drain through the building, he said. Because the sewer lines are outside of the building, it has not yet been determined where they are or how many there are, Davis said. Engineers are studying the situation in order to plan their next action. Meanwhile the smell that is created by the drippage of raw sewer in the basement is a problem, he said. "Sometimes we have had to turn on some fans to get rid of the smell," Willden said. '86 -'87 Get to know the new faces Become involved in student government Positions are opening in all areas for next year Look into: Convocations committee Special Olympics Open hour committees High School Relations |