The College announced in April that it will renovate Achilles Rink, the campus home of its men's and women's hockey programs, rather than participate in the construction of a new
multi-rink center proposed for land along North Jay Street in Schenectady.
President Hull said the College's decision came after a careful review of a detailed proposal from the developer and an analysis of various options.
“As much as I believe in Schenectady and want the
College to continue to play a
role in Schenectady's revival, we simply are not in a position to make a financial commitment of this magnitude,” he said.
Hull estimated that the cost to the College of a new rink could be as much as $8 million, and the conversion of Achilles for other purposes would have added millions more. Accordingly, the renovation of Achilles Rink will be undertaken as funds become available.
“At a time of intense competition among nationally-recognized colleges like Union, we must put our financial resources where they can have the greatest impact,” Hull said. “Our financial commitments to the $18.25 million renovation and expansion of Schaffer Library and the $9 million construction of the F.W. Olin Center, a high-technology classroom and laboratory building, are cases in point.”
The president said sentiment among students in favor of Achilles Rink as a hockey facility was an important part of the College's decision. “Since I've always felt that campus opinion should play a role in decisions, we actively sought that opinion,” Hull said. “From the moment we began discussing the issue, there was strong feeling in favor of staying on campus.”