Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-26
College Plans
For Gymnasiums
Not Yet Active

Three Maine colleges are striving
for new gymnasiums. One has a
well equipped establishment Of ath-
letics.
Bowdoin has the only good gym
nasium among the three Pine Tree
! colleges. The gymnasiums Of Colby,
Maine, and Bates are wholly made
quate.
Though the plans and campaigns
! Of Colby, Maine, and Bates are still
in the adolescent state, there seems
to be certainty that all three will
, witness the fulfillment Of cherished
gym -dreamers in the next few years.
Increased student enrolment, the
addition Of many informal and intra
| mural sports to athletic curriculums,
! the taking up Of physical training
| for those not actively engaged in
recognized athletics and an increased
interest in all sporting events are
the vital reasons why Maine colleges
must in the near future, pull down
their Anticipated gymnasiums and
build new structures that will provide
ample room and facilities for modern
athletic work Of all kinds.
{. The new Colby gymnasium plans
are slowly but surely progressing. 1t
| is not an idle dream to predict that
the local institution will have a new
home Of athletics and physical train
ing before the present freshman class
| has graduated. The gymnasium may
| not be completed by that time but the
work should be well along by the
spring of 1926, according to the latest
hopes OF the planners.
Colby, as her sister colleges In
this state, is certainly in need Of a
al oh, tn
has been written about the necessity
Of having q new Colby gym. Friends
! Of Colby are we'll acquainted with the
present facilities and the plans for
building a new structure on the site
Of the present building.
There Is no doubt but what the
students and athletic authorities at
the college have done all possible
with the present equipment. Since
the entrance Of Athletic Director C..
Harry Edwards into affairs at Colby,
there has been much improvement in
the general equipment Of the gym.
Fully three times as many students
are engaging in daily exercise as par
ticipated in formal or informal ath-
letics before his coming. The Physi-
| cal training clas have been estab-
lished, varsity basketball and varsity
hockey have been tried, interfrater-
nifty basketball, and hockey are well
established on the winter program,
and inter-gyAm class competition has
been started. In the track depart
ment presided over by Coach Mike
Ryan interfraternity, intel class, and
interdormitory events of all kinds
have been fostered in addition to the
regular varsity features.
The result of the new era is that
more and more students are engaging
| in athletic work, all in keeping with
the approved modern theory that col
lege athletics were made for the en-
tire body rather than for a favored
circle Of stars.
The student body at Colby in the
present" year is larger than at any
time in the history OF the college. The
! increased enrolment makes new
gymnasium imperative. The teams
Of the college, as those at Bates and
| Maine, are forced to carry out much
Of their training indoors. The made
quate floor space of Colby gym. forces
Curtailment of necessary training
operations with the result that COM
petition brings unsatisfactory records
in many sports.