“The activities, staff and programming at the Barnes Center are what matters most,” Syverud added. “We want to continually work to provide the services that Syracuse University students need to succeed—personally and academically. My hope is that the center will become the place to meet on campus.”
The facility includes equipment for recreational fitness and personal training, along with student health clinics. In addition, it provides students nutritional advice; information on stress management; meditation resources; and mental-health counseling.
“Today’s university students want excellent academics, extracurricular activities that ignite their passion, and health and wellness opportunities that help balance the rigor and demands of their entire experience. Creating a place where students can find life balance will empower them to succeed,” Steven Barnes, chairman emeritus of the Syracuse University board of trustees and a 1982 graduate, said in the news release.
Barnes and his wife, Deborah, donated $5 million to help build the center, a “central component of a plan to transform the student experience at Syracuse University,” per the school’s news release.
Syracuse is also using a $3.5 million donation for “significant” renovations to Archbold Gymnasium, per a December 2017 news release. Kwang Tan, who earned a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science in 1973, provided the donation.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com