Students are fortunate to have such an amazing campus. The school has done an impressive job building and managing the athletics building, academic buildings, and the music and arts building.
Not a day goes by that I do not think about how lucky I am to be going to this institution. I recognize that, as with everything, it is hard to be perfect.
This summer, I could not help but imagine what a perfect Haverford could look like.
Three major campus changes could boost our community, sports performance, and overall morale to a higher standard.
At number three, I have parking. Parking has been one of Haverford’s sour spots for as long as I can remember. There are barely enough spots for one grade, and Panmure Road is hard to park in if you have a bigger car. In my perfect Haverford, I have parking for every student in the high school.
Number two is a revamped athletics building. Some amenities needed in a new athletic building are two pools, ten squash courts, four basketball courts, and a designated wrestling room. These spaces could supercharge our sports teams and give us a better advantage over our competitors.
If I were to rank these in order of importance, I would rank a designated wrestling room at number one. Our wrestling program first started to be nationally known around the 1970s. This program has begun to revamp and deserves a new facility specifically made for wrestling.
Our squash team is known for having some of the best and most dedicated players in the nation, and these players have done this with four courts. The squash team’s Inter-Ac competitor, Episcopal Academy, has two-and-a-half times more at ten courts. Imagine what this team could do with ten courts.
Finally, as the school sees strengthening water polo and basketball programs, I believe that they will soon grow out of their current two-court and one-pool setup. This is why, in a new athletics building, the Fords would need two pools and four basketball courts.
Music and the arts are one of the fastest-growing facets of our generation. The school could do more to bring the building up to the current advancements, allowing performers to reach higher and achieve more.
Before I get to number one, I would love to give honorable mention to a tennis program that requires more courts. Our tennis program is strong, and it would be interesting to think about what could happen if we gave them more courts to work with.
Finally, at number one, I have a revamped music and arts building. Centennial Hall, built in 1984, is one of the oldest buildings on campus, making it 41 years old this year.
Music and the arts are one of the fastest-growing facets of our generation. The school could do more to bring the building up to the current advancements, allowing performers to reach higher and achieve more.
Despite the campus’s tight confines, Centennial Hall is one of the buildings on campus that can be expanded. I would have a full redesign of the building, putting in the best space available, including a brand new conservatory and a second deck in the theatre, to fit the whole school in one assembly, and boost presence in our sold-out theatrical performances.