Women’s locker room expanded to meet Title IX guidelines

By Travis David V Whittaker

Closed for the summer. Students who took summer classes were unable to use the lower level of Randall Hall where the workout facility is located. The building has been under construction after several findings related to Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2012. The men’s locker room was substantially larger than the women’s before construction.

Mickey Yeager, the project coordinator for campus services, said, “In 2012 the Oregon Department of Education conducted a comprehensive civil rights review of CCC’s operations and facilities. The findings report recommended ADA and Title IX corrective actions for the Randall Hall locker room/restroom facilities.”

In order for the school to meet those requirements, they closed the lower level of Randall Hall during the past three months. Yeager said that the construction is due to be complete by the second week of the fall term.

The updates that are on the lower level of the building include a gender neutral changing room and family locker room area. Also to meet Title IX laws, the men’s and women’s locker rooms will be the same size.

In addition to making Title IX updates, Yeager added that the construction will include updated ADA facilities. Randall Hall has always had an elevator to reach the bottom floor of the classrooms on the upper levels, but it has not had accessible bathrooms and showers. Yeager said, “With the updates, there will be ADA shower controls and everything will be mirror images of each other.”

Some questions could arise as to how the weight room and physical education classes will function with possible construction still going on during the first and second weeks of the term. According to the college’s athletic director, Jim Martineau, the weight room will reopen on the first day of the term.

“We are planning on having access to the space on the first day of fall term. If this doesn’t happen, we will work with our students to provide a space to change for classes.”

It isn’t clear how students will be able to access the weight room during the first week. But Martineau commented that it would either be the hallway or down by the sidewalk on the south side of the building with proper signage to help navigate students and faculty.

Martineau added that the construction hasn’t affected the training for any of the fall sports including girls’ soccer, volleyball and cross country.

It hasn’t effected any fall workouts. We have access to the fitness center for athletic team workouts as needed and we have made a temporary training room in the fitness center as well.”

Many student athletes are excited for the new changes. Head wrestling coach, Josh Rhoden, said “Our athletes and staff are really excited about it and ready to get into the new facility. I can’t tell you how much this has been needed and at the very least addresses one of the many needs over here in Randall.”

Before construction, the lower level of Randall Hall wasn’t inviting. It was old. Lockers were busted in. The concrete needed to be replaced. With the new, updated lower level, it is definitely more inviting and a great place to work out on the Oregon City campus.

For those gym rats on campus or students who want to start working out, the hours will be Monday and Wednesday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and then again from 1-8 p.m. On Tuesday and Thursday, it will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Hours on Friday are from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. Access to the weight room is free with a current student ID.