MAC Pool Petition to Fail

Users of the Malkin Athletic Center (MAC) pool presented a petition this week to the Assistant Director of Athletics, John E. Wentzell, and the Director of Aquatics, Elizabeth N. Lambert, to request that the pool remain open this summer.

However, athletic officials said the pool's closing would allow time for normal maintenance as well as getting a permit from Cambridge inspectors.

"It really does come down to money, maintenance and staffing," Lambert said.

The petition, dated May 13, which was signed by more than 60 students and staff, states, "Although we are aware of the additional cost of heating the pool and extra staff, Blodgett Pool is unfortunately too far away from campus for those of us with children, and handicaps such as hip and knee replacements."

Betty Shookley, who swims regularly at the Malkin pool and signed the petition said, "We are all very interested because the Blodgett pool is quite a mess."

Shookley said the Blodgett pool is much further to carry equipment and there is little parking available due to construction.

Lambert said she hopes the organizers of the petition will contact her so she can explain the reasons for closing the pool personally.

"Maybe they'll arrange an appointment to come see me," Lambert said, noting that the petition she received did not list a contact name or phone number. "That would be great."

Shookley said a group of swimmers, who had taken advantage of the Early Bird hours at the MAC pool, had gotten together to discuss the closing.

"Our thought was that they should close the Blodgett and keep the Malkin pool open for the summer," Shookley said, noting that Blodgett's parking was limited due to construction and carrying equipment to Blodgett was difficult.

Signatories of the petition said a woman approached them at the MAC and asked for signatures when they were in the halls or the locker rooms.

"[The woman] said that it would be too much to walk across the river with children and that it would cut into the little exercise time they had," said Women's Lacrosse Coach Carole A. Kleinfelder, who signed the petition.

"I know the issue is with finances," Kleinfelder said. "I was willing to sign if it was going to help."

The exact identity of the petition's authors has not been clear, with the signatures on the petition listing both staff and student swimmers, some of whom said they will not be here over the summer.

The MAC pool is routinely closed for the summer for basic maintenance, due to a lack of life-guards and to save money, Lambert said.

"Harvard's got a great situation," for recreational swimmers, providing many more open hours at a pool than other universities in the area, said Lambert.

The MAC pool will be opened earlier than normal this summer, opening August 2nd so that the Blodgett pool can be closed for its maintenance and as part of the racquets facility construction from August 2nd to 29th.

Lambert said that in her term here, the University discovered that the MAC pool has never had a permit on file with the city of Cambridge. This situation will be remedied this summer, she said.

The MAC pool keeps a schedule closer to the academic calendar, Lambert said, because its lifeguards are normally Harvard undergraduates.

Shifts at Blodgett are longer and often covered by students from nearby universities with an entire day off.

Wentzell, who received the original petition, could not be reached today. He is travelling with the Crimson baseball team.

--Caitlin E. Anderson and Amber L. Ramage contributed to the reporting of this story.

Shookley said a group of swimmers, who had taken advantage of the Early Bird hours at the MAC pool, had gotten together to discuss the closing.

"Our thought was that they should close the Blodgett and keep the Malkin pool open for the summer," Shookley said, noting that Blodgett's parking was limited due to construction and carrying equipment to Blodgett was difficult.

Signatories of the petition said a woman approached them at the MAC and asked for signatures when they were in the halls or the locker rooms.

"[The woman] said that it would be too much to walk across the river with children and that it would cut into the little exercise time they had," said Women's Lacrosse Coach Carole A. Kleinfelder, who signed the petition.

"I know the issue is with finances," Kleinfelder said. "I was willing to sign if it was going to help."

The exact identity of the petition's authors has not been clear, with the signatures on the petition listing both staff and student swimmers, some of whom said they will not be here over the summer.

The MAC pool is routinely closed for the summer for basic maintenance, due to a lack of life-guards and to save money, Lambert said.

"Harvard's got a great situation," for recreational swimmers, providing many more open hours at a pool than other universities in the area, said Lambert.

The MAC pool will be opened earlier than normal this summer, opening August 2nd so that the Blodgett pool can be closed for its maintenance and as part of the racquets facility construction from August 2nd to 29th.

Lambert said that in her term here, the University discovered that the MAC pool has never had a permit on file with the city of Cambridge. This situation will be remedied this summer, she said.

The MAC pool keeps a schedule closer to the academic calendar, Lambert said, because its lifeguards are normally Harvard undergraduates.

Shifts at Blodgett are longer and often covered by students from nearby universities with an entire day off.

Wentzell, who received the original petition, could not be reached today. He is travelling with the Crimson baseball team.

--Caitlin E. Anderson and Amber L. Ramage contributed to the reporting of this story.