The QC, Vol. 88, No. 01 • September 6, 2001

              The Voice Of Whittier College Since 1914
September 6,2001
Library renovation postponed because of difficulties
As planned construction hits unforeseen obstacles, the contents may move temporarily to Wardman parking lot
M LIBRARY
by Amy Stice
QC Editor-in-Chief
Students returned to campus this week
expecting to see the Bonnie Bell Wardman
Library and the North Lawn in disarray;
instead, they discovered that the physical
work on the planned renovation project was
never started. Despite a schedule that called
for construction on the Library to begin the
day after the Class of 2001's graduation
ceremony, structural work did not start when
the project team concluded that it would be
extremely difficult to keep the Library open
to students, as promised, during the renovation.
The main problem stems from the Library's mechanical system, which would
have to be kept operational during construction if the building is to continue to be used,
Vice President of Finance and Administration Jan Legoza said. The limited floor-to-
ceiling space in the building makes necessary installation of an additional system
difficult, while resulting in "a number of
costly construction starts and stops to allow
Library staff to move about the building,"
Legoza said in an e-mail.
Furtherproblems include meeting building codes for fire safety, accessibility and
restrooms while keeping the resources open
for use. These requirements could increase
the construction period from its original 15
months to almost two years while increasing the cost of construction, Legoza said.
Although no final decision has been
made regarding construction procedure, the
most recent suggestion is to "decant" the
Library during December or January, moving books and other resources, including
Internet-connected computers, to a temporary facility assembled in the Wardman
parking lot, Head Librarian Phil O'Brien
said. The facility that the College is considering is currently in use by the City of
Please see LIBRARY, page 7
I
-
EVA SEVCIKOVA/QC NEWS EDITOR
Although the shelves in the Wardman Library already lie bare, the renovation
project has been postponed.
Students and faculty bid farewell to Dave Jacobs
■ MEMORIAL
by Eva Sevcikova
QC News Editor
The wooden court in the gym of David
Graham Athletics Center was born at approximately the same time as many juniors
and seniors on the Whittier College campus. Very few students, however, know of
its origins. All the narrow strips of wood,
one by one, were laiddown in early 1979 by
the late Director of Athletics David Jacobs.
Down on his hands and knees he created
the basketball court that became his classroom. It was on these boards that several
generations ofWhittier College basketball
players pulled their muscles and left their
sweat, and in return found their dreams and
accomplished their goals.
It was therefore only symbolic that on
Friday, July 13, a memorial service was
held on this very same wooden floor to
commemorate Jacobs. After Jacobs, 58,
died of lung cancer on Saturday, July 7, his
family requested that donations be made to
refurbish the existing basketball court in
the gym. "It is a way to memorialize Dave,"
Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Director of Major Gifts Mike Rizzo said. The
vacated spot of the Director of Athletics
has been temporarily filled by the Assistant
Professor of Physical Education Patricia
Van Oosbree. The search for Jacobs' successor is in process.
Part of Jacobs' philosophy was that the
basketball court is a stage meant to host a
show—not one of bad character and bad
out of a game for any reason). It says a lot
about him—his sense of dignity and self-
control. He never wanted to be the show,"
Adams said.
He made it a show time for others
though. During his 20 years at Whittier
/College, Jacobs was instrumental in shaping the athletics program of this institution.
In 1979 he was appointed head men's basketball coach and an associate professor of
Physical Education and Recreation. He
served as Whittier's Director of Athletics
from 1974 until his death and continued to
coach basketball until 1996. According to a
College press release, during Jacobs' tenure as head coach, Whittier's basketball
teams won seven Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)
championships, competed in six National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(N.A.I. A.) district championships (winning
one), competed in three N.C.A.A. Division
III western regionals (winning one) and
amassed over 300 wins.
Please see JACOBS, page 6
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOBS FAMILY
David A.Jacobs (in the forefront) with an intent look on his players and the
court. His future son-in-law Chris Schoemann ('87) sits second from the left.
sportsmanship but rather one of teamwork
and respect for each and every individual.
Professor of English Charles Adams, who
has served as the Faculty Athletics Representative, remembers having a conversation with Jacobs about an important issue.
"I said something like 'Dave, this is an
occasion when you need to make a big
gesture, sort of like getting thrown out of a
game on purpose to fire the team up.'
He replied very seriously, 'I have never
been thrown out of a game.'
'Not even on purpose?'
'Especially not on purpose.'
It was clear that he found the idea offensive (just the idea that one would be thrown
For Your Information
In an effort to consistently improve the
newspaper and to keep in touch with its
readership, the QC is implementing a
system of feedback. We will be mailing
out forms via campus mail and e-mail to
sources quoted in articles and would
appreciate your comments. General
readers can also comment by sending
an e-mail to qc@whittier.edu.
Uptown Whittier
A first-year student's guide to
the exciting attractions and
hangouts in Whittier.
Campus Life, Page 6
ISSUE 1 • VOLUME 88
Jurassic Tech. Part XV
It's a bird! It's a bad movie! No,
it's... a museum. Of Jurassic
Technology. Surreal, dude.
A&E, Page 10
Play Ball
Football takes on two teams at once!
A pre-season guide and a wrap up
of the double scrimmage.
Sports, Page 16