The entrance to the new Fitness Center at the Metropolitan Campus faces Robison Hall. For additional photos go to http://inside.fdu.edu/pt2/otw0302/photo2.html

The ribbon-cutting for the opening of the new Fitness Center at the Metropolitan Campus was celebrated on December 19. Held just before the University’s holiday party for the campus’s faculty and staff, this was the first event conducted in the building. The 19,500-square-foot facility is a renovation and expansion of the campus’s original gymnasium.

President J. Michael Adams, third from right, cut the ribbon opening the center. Pictured from left are Richard Riccio, vice president for administration; Sheldon Drucker, senior vice president for finance/treasurer; Carl Viola, executive vice president; William “Pat” Schuber, then Bergen County executive and administrative science (Metro); Jacqueline Kate, mayor of Teaneck; Adams; Uron Hawkins, student (Metro); and Richard Bronson, interim provost (Metro).

The original brick facade of the old building has been retained. Inside is a large central court for pick-up basketball and volleyball games. For fitness and health, there are a series of rooms with specialized equipment, including a free-weight room, a selectorized weight room, an area devoted to cardiovascular exercise equipment and an aerobics and dance studio.

Adjacent to the North Parking Lot campus entrance, the center is ideal for use by the commuter population and a spacious Commuter Lounge occupies one end of the building.

The architects for the project were Perkins Eastman Architects, New York City. The contractor was Barr & Barr, Franklin Lakes, N.J.

Through focus and user groups, a Fitness Center emerged as a high priority for the Metropolitan Campus, and an upgraded Commuter Lounge also was a key element on the wish list. To ensure the facility will meet the needs of students, Scott Fisher has been named as director of the center. He is a sports physiologist and nutritionist with experience in building award-winning wellness/fitness programs. For additional information about Fisher go to http://fduknights.ocsn.com/genrel/012803aak.html.

Left photo: David Langford, director of athletics and Rothman Center (Metro), was introduced at a media day for the center. Right photo: David Langford, center, is interviewed by Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger, left, and Greg Mattura of The Record.

A press conference was held at the center in January to introduce the outside media to David Langford, newly named director of athletics and of the Rothman Center, and to show them the center. “We are delighted to have someone of David’s reputation and capabilities to lead FDU athletics to the next level.” Richard Bronson, interim provost (Metro), stated. “David impressed all of us during the recruitment process. We were fortunate to have an exceptionally strong group of candidates — over 60 highly qualified people from around the country. We also were fortunate to have a superb associate director of athletics, Ann Gulino, who provided important leadership and vision during the search process. We now have the best of both worlds, with David and Ann working together.”

“I look forward to working closely with the student-athletes, coaches and staff in the Fairleigh Dickinson athletic department,” said Langford, a 20-year veteran college athletics administrator, coach and educator. “The University community is very proud of the scholastic and athletic accomplishments of this department, and I hope that I can contribute to its continued growth.”

Langford takes over after spending the last 14 years as a member of the athletic administrative staff at fellow Northeast Conference (NEC) school, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, which has won four NEC Commissioner’s Cups and achieved a top-120 ranking in the 2002 national Sears Cup standings. He served since 1996 as UMBC’s associate athletic director and, from 1988 to 1996, as assistant athletic director. For additional information about Langford go to http://fduknights.ocsn.com/genrel/012303aaa.html.

February 2003

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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