Sweet seeks donations for recreation center

YSU's president wants gifts in the $1 million range.
By RON COLE
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- You better not pout. You cannot hide. You better be prepared. I'll tell you why ...
Dr. David Sweet is looking -- for money.
Sweet, president of Youngstown State University, has developed a list of potential donors to contribute to a $12 million to $14 million proposed student recreation and wellness center on campus.
And he hopes he doesn't run into a bunch of Grinches.
"There are people in this community who believe strongly in what we're doing, and I'm hopeful that they will support us in this project," Sweet told a meeting of YSU faculty, staff and students last week.
Vital: The idea of a recreation center has been tossed around at YSU for about four years, and Sweet has said a new center is vital to attracting more students to campus.
Kent State University opened a shiny new $25 million student recreation and wellness center in April 1999, while Slippery Rock University's new $10 million center opened in December 1999. The University of Akron also has plans for a new center.
In April 2000, YSU students overwhelmingly supported the idea, voting to raise their fees between $60 and $75 a semester to finance the facility, which could include an indoor running track, racquetball courts and areas for aerobics, weightlifting and other activities.
But YSU trustees, citing continually increasing student tuition and fees, told Sweet they did not want to raise student fees even more to build a rec center. State funds cannot by law be used for such facilities.
Mini-campaign: So Sweet has launched what he calls a "mini-campaign" to raise the money from private sources. Sweet said he has developed a list of about 15 potential donors and already has started contacting some of them.
"We're looking at major gifts" in the $1 million range, he said.
Sweet acknowledged it may be difficult, especially given the national recession, but he said he remains hopeful. He said he plans to decide in January if raising the money privately is feasible.
If not? "We'll have a conversation about that then," he said.