The UC Down Under is on its last strike.
During the 2014-2015 academic year, the recreation center will close its doors for good.
For Margy Wirtz-Henry, director of the Physical Education Activity Program, the end of Down Under will be a loss for students and academic departments alike.
“Our billiards and bowling classes in Down Under are popular and fill up every time they are offered,” Wirtz-Henry said. “With this change, we may have to drop billiards, and for bowling we may have to look at off-campus options and may look at local businesses having us during the day.
“… From the perspective of someone in exercise and science perspective, I hope that we don’t have to lose a space for leisure and exercise on campus.”
In the opinion of Wendy Cox, general manager of Strike & Spare’s Western Avenue and Fountain Lanes locations, the closing of Down Under could potentially affect the local Knoxville community in addition to campus.
“We may see a positive impact on business from students and organizations hosting birthday parties and events,” Cox said. “We have had UT bowling students come to our Western Avenue location regularly and would like to continue that relationship.”
Hannah Herrin, junior in global studies and political science, has worked as a student employee in the UC for almost three years. The loss of Down Under, she said, is a personal blow. For her, the UC has become a “second home.”
“Being a student worker at Down Under has been the highlight of my undergrad, and I’m sad that more people won’t get to experience that,” Herrin said. “Staff unity within the building as a whole is incredible. I’m able to be friends with people I would have never met in my normal campus routine, and I wouldn’t give that up for anything.
“So I’m pretty sad it’s closing because I wish I could come back in 10 years to show my kids some of my favorite memories of college.”
Amy Anderson, recreation coordinator for Down Under, said recreational offerings are under consideration as construction of the new Student Union goes forward. However, there is no expectation to recreate the Down Under, which currently features a 12-lane bowling alley, pool tables, video game consoles, ping-pong sets and student lounge areas.
Down Under first opened for business in 1954 and has since become a fixture on campus. The recreation center began with only four lanes and a separate billiards area before expanding to its current size in 1967.
Student demand has shaped the recreational activities of Down Under throughout its more than half-century of operation. The center previously offered air hockey tables and camping equipment rental. Bowling, billiards, darts, foosball and table tennis have maintained a constant presence, but as technology has advanced, the center’s digital entertainment has shifted as well. Outdated gaming consoles have been replaced by the Xbox 360.
In addition, Down Under runs annual leagues and tournaments for several activities and sponsors students to participate in the Association of College Unions International Recreation Tournaments.
Anderson said the center has worked to provide quality entertainment and recreation for university students, faculty and guests since its early days, but Down Under’s most important contribution to student life, in her opinion, is the opportunity to get involved with the life of campus.
“As an undergraduate here in the 1990s, I made many of my first friends on campus in the bowling league,” Anderson said in an email. “Now, as a staff member, I’ve seen many of the same friendships forged among both students and staff/faculty over a little competitive bowling, and many of our other recreational offerings.”
