Sullivan Aquatic Center Opens to SCU Community Sunday, Oct. 26SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 23 -- Less than a year after starting work on the new aquatic center made possible by a gift from Class of 1959 alumnus Jack Sullivan and his wife Joan, the Sullivan Aquatic Center will open Sunday to the campus community. The gleaming new pool is in the same location as the old one, between the Pat Malley Fitness and Recreation Center and the Leavey Center. Bronco water polo players recently began practicing there. Sullivan, who also received his MBA from Santa Clara University in 1976, last year likened his family's generous $3 million donation for the new pool to an investment in the future. "Opportunities to do something meaningful are like great investments, they are hard to come by," he said. "This was a good one." The new pool is Olympic-sized, twice as long and 25 percent wider than the previous pool -- well in excess of regulation size for water polo matches. Eventually, the pool will feature a movable divider to make it easier for lap swimmers to swim while the water polo team is practicing or playing a game or tournament. The pool has passed all needed inspections. Campus Recreation began testing, interviewing, and training student lifeguards Wednesday to be in place for Sunday's opening. Seven lanes will be regularly available for recreational lap swimming, while the remainder of the pool will be used by water polo teams whenever there is a practice, home game or tournament. Until a safety net that is on order arrives, however, not all seven lanes will be available for lap swimmers during games or practice scrimmages. In addition to current SCU students, faculty, and staff, the pool will be available to Malley Center members, including alumni who purchase memberships. Pool hours currently are expected to be the same as before, but may change due to staffing issues. The current schedule is: Monday - Thursday 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Santa Clara will host a men's water polo tournament this Saturday, during which there will be no recreational lap swimming. SCU's team is scheduled to play against Air Force at 10 a.m. and Cal Baptist at 5 p.m. Students are encouraged to stop by the pool and cheer on the team. The Sullivan family will join SCU President Paul Locatelli, S.J., Nov. 9 at noon to dedicate the pool. An alumni game will follow. Pool Facts:
About Santa Clara University Deborah Lohse 
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