Vol. 24, No. 19	April 2,1999

Rowers Past and Present Celebrate New Boat House, and New Era in Columbia Crew

BY A. DUNLAP-SMITH

Columbia broke ground on a new building project and simultaneously launched a new era for Light Blue rowing. At a recent Baker Field ceremony, University officials and guests began the $6 million transformation of Columbia's rowing facility, home to Light Blue crews since 1922.

By this time next year, Columbia's most populous sport, with about 150 student-athletes participating in it, will have not one but two new buildings.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the urban renaissance take place on this ground," Provost Jonathan R. Cole, CC'64, said to the crowd's applause. The new facility was among other things a sign of "respect for our student-athletes," he added.

"This rowing complex will be the envy of the EARC [Eastern Athletic Rowing Conference]," said Eric Nelson, CC'80, president of Columbia's alumni/ae crew club, the King's Crown Rowing Association.

A spacious three-bay shell house with a storage mezzanine will replace the old, cramped structure on the northern flank of Remmer Boathouse. On its southern flank, a two-story house will rise where ramshackle repair sheds stand. The ground floor of this building will have a repair shop and a boat storage area. Locker rooms for Columbia's men's and women's teams and a lounge will be on its second floor. The existing locker rooms in the Remmer Boathouse will be devoted to visiting teams.

A throng of former, present and even future C.U. rowers gathered on March 13 at the Eugene H. Remmer (CC'43, SEAS'43) Boathouse to hear Cole, Athletic Director John Reeves, Heavyweight Crew Coach Scott McKee and rowing alumni Tom Sanford, CC'68, and Nelson laud the new building project and herald a bright future for Light Blue crew.

The crowd was massed on the lawn overlooking the Harlem River and the huge light-blue "C" painted on the rocky cliff along its far bank. After brief speeches, everyone had an opportunity to don a light-blue construction helmet and pick up a shovel, with its blade painted in Columbia colors to match the blades of the Lion oars, and participate in the groundbreaking by digging a ceremonial shovel-full of Baker Field.

The festivities continued into the evening as many people returned to campus for a crew awards dinner held in Low Rotunda.