Haven't seen it mentioned (Closing Fike Pool)

[Nebula]

Maybe I missed the thread but the search didn't turn anything up.


Clemson plans to close the Fike pool permanently. I am pretty bummed Clemson is doing this. I also don't buy their reasoning.


I don't see why Clemson wants to be the only school in the ACC without a pool. Getting rid of the scholarship swim team I believe was blamed on Title IX. Clemson can absolutely afford to keep the pool open for the club team and all the people use it for health and exercise.

[Robert Thorne MacRae]

Yeah, that is too bad. Barb would certainly have something to say about it.

For the prices Clemson charges students these days they really need to create a better fitness facility. Auburn's is awesome.

[TX Tiger]

I don’t think officially cutting swimming was related to Title IX since it created a + in women’s scholarships. From what I recall, the pool was in bad shape and was going to cost a lot to get it fixed (I seem to recall it wasn’t an Olympic size pool either but I may be wrong). Personally I think they just didn’t want to spend the money to repair the pool and fund the program - scholarships, coaches, travel, etc.

[URR29]

Hadn't heard this. Former swimmer here. Won't go into that here now. Is there another ACC/SEC school that does not have a pool on campus? I have been to other campuses. student centers have pools. And lot's of other amenities. U of SC has a couple of pools. The Thurmond center is pretty amazing. Clemson has nothing like that to my knowledge.

In the scheme of things, keeping an existing 8 lane, 25 yard pool open is not that big of a cost. There was an issue years ago, the last year they had the swim team, but I thought they fixed that.

Olympic sized pools are 50 meters in length. Our pool is 25 yards which is what NCAA competes in. Short course in fall/winter is 25 yards. Long course during summer in 50 meter pools. There are larger meets, international meets that compete in the 50 meter pool during the short course season.

[Nebula]

Originally Posted by TX Tiger

I don’t think officially cutting swimming was related to Title IX since it created a + in women’s scholarships. From what I recall, the pool was in bad shape and was going to cost a lot to get it fixed (I seem to recall it wasn’t an Olympic size pool either but I may be wrong). Personally I think they just didn’t want to spend the money to repair the pool and fund the program - scholarships, coaches, travel, etc.

It wasn't a money issue for the pool originally.


When they got rid of the swim team, they also said they were going to close to pool for cost reasons.


I know a booster showed up with a checkbook asking how much it would cost to keep the swim team. They said it wasn't a money thing and rejected the offer from the booster. Said booster has nothing to do with Clemson anymore because she knew they were being dishonest about what and why they were doing what they were doing.


If there are maintenance issues, fix it. Fike actually just spent a HUGE amount of their budget putting new pumps and equipment in just last year.



We will legit be probably the only school in the ACC and SEC without a pool. Makes zero sense.

[mezmrin]

Sad! I've been swimming in those pools since I was 5 (1981)

[Nebula]

Originally Posted by mezmrin

Sad! I've been swimming in those pools since I was 5 (1981)

I urge everyone to email the BOD and the President if you think Clemson shouldn't change their direction.



Unfortunately, Clemson isn't going to listen to the student body on this. Money talks.

[Tiger80]

I can’t imagine an intramural recreation center without a swimming pool.

[mezmrin]

Our summertime workouts while in school were always finished with a few laps in the pool!

[Gavin Oliver]

Here's the latest

Here's the latest update on the temporary closure of Fike pool ⤵️

— Clemson University (@ClemsonUniv) June 21, 2019

[TX Tiger]

Make no mistake it is always about the money. If money weren’t a factor then Clemson would have a lot more sports. Perhaps the repair was something that could be funded but with about 30 scholarships (between M/W swimming/diving) the $1.5- $2 million annual recurring cost (my guesstimate) to run the program is likely a bit tougher.

[Judge Keller]

Based on the most recent release from Clemson, it sounds like it's a temporary pool closure and not a permanent one. Maybe we should wait for more details before freaking out about how we will not have a pool on campus and how horrible this is compared to other ACC and SEC schools.

[URR29]

Originally Posted by Judge Keller

Based on the most recent release from Clemson, it sounds like it's a temporary pool closure and not a permanent one. Maybe we should wait for more details before freaking out about how we will not have a pool on campus and how horrible this is compared to other ACC and SEC schools.

Yep. Big difference between closing permanently and shutting down for repairs.

[Robert Thorne MacRae]

You would think when out of state students are paying over 50K they would have the $$$. The school needs to do some serious looking at how they spend their money. I know of several departments where I wonder why in the world does the university need that many people.

[whitiger]

Originally Posted by Judge Keller

Based on the most recent release from Clemson, it sounds like it's a temporary pool closure and not a permanent one. Maybe we should wait for more details before freaking out about how we will not have a pool on campus and how horrible this is compared to other ACC and SEC schools.

Then again if the local paper reports its closing without plans to reopen, Greenville News, perhaps its OK to respond with views now and maybe there was a lot of response and maybe admin was testing the waters so to speak and what might have been a closure is now being reported as a two week repair job.