Swimmers hit the lanes of the Lake C. Oxford Natatorium early Friday morning, just as they’d done nearly each morning since the pool opened in 1977.
A half-dozen senior citizens exercised on floatables. A swim coach’s orders echoed across the pool and over the splashing of the lap swimmers. The scene has happened nearly every morning for the past 34 years, but today is different.
Thanks to a student vote held a little more than a week ago, when the doors of the nat close Friday night, they may be closing forever.
Lisa Colvin, kinesiology professor and triathlon coach, launched a Facebook-led campaign in July to “save the nat” after University officials announced it would close due to low usage and dilapidated conditions.
“I would hate to see the legacy of so many users be lost to time,” Colvin said. “The natatorium has meant a lot to so many current and former student, like myself.”
Despite the group’s efforts, the cause fell short in the straw poll.
Forty-six percent of the students voting wanted to close the natatorium and build an outdoor, mini-swim park in what is now Bayou Park. Their votes nearly doubled that of students voting to renovate the natatorium.
Colvin said, “My hope is that this vote will not be the single determining factor of the fate of the natatorium especially in light of the low student voter turnout.”
About 14 percent of the student population voted in the election. Student Government President Brooke Dugas said SGA will move forward with a referendum in the spring to raise fees to pay for the Bayou Park pool.
The new facilities could soon include an outdoor pool, lazy river, island cabanas and an amphitheater. Students like Campus Activities Board President Ben Young are looking to a Bayou Park pool to bring a new era of swimming to the next generation of Warhawks.
“The students took a big step toward making something really awesome happen here at ULM,” said Young, adding that a Bayou Park pool would help attract new students.
Young said, “If I was going on a campus tour, and I saw an outdoor pool on campus, it would give the school cool points!”
Not all students see the outdoor pool as a good addition. Triathlon team member Wynston Johnson-Lyman expressed an outrage over the situation that suggested he’d throw not only the “cool points” out of the window, but his uniform along with them.
“How can [competitive swimmers] proudly represent our university if our school won’t support us by giving us what we need to be great right now? I’ve got a possible answer, we won’t,” said Johnson-Lyman.
He added, “I can honestly say that I would be ashamed to continue to wear the ULM logo on my uniform when I compete.”
Even with the gloomy outlook for the pool’s future lingering over what could be swimmers’ final day in the natatorium, spirits seemed high among the tight-nit group. Colvin led a cheer circle in which all 20 or so swimmers spelled out Warhawks.
Community organizer Tom Baker, a natatorium regular since 1994, arrived in a Santa costume. He said his spirits remain high because he believes the nat will re-open.
“I think ULM needs to have a relationship with the community,” Baker said. “We’re going to save the nat whether or not the University wants to help us.”
However, the University may be willing to give that help.
Fredrick Hunefeld, the community leader in charge of the $230,000 the natatorium has raised, confirmed he was in talks with the University to pay to re-open the nat, an idea administration officials have maintained would be of interest to them.
“[ULM’s administration] has been very good to work with during this process,” Hunefeld said. “We have a good working relationship, and we hope something beneficial to both sides will be produced in the future.”
As things stand now, however, the swim lanes in the Lake C. Oxford Natatorium will fall still when the building closes for the night.
Only time will tell if they remain that way.
