Hundreds of University students go into the University Student Recreational Complex everyday, but it may be weeks — even months — before students can enjoy a game of basketball or run around the indoor track.Hurricane Gustav destroyed a majority of the Rec’s copper roof. Mangled pieces laid on the ground and as far as 100 feet from its origin.
Earlier in the day, workers on campus said a tornado may have spun through that area of campus, causing the extensive damage at the Rec Center.From the inside, there was only one visible hole, but the damage far exceeded its looks. Tiles remained, but the protection sealing water from coming inside are gone.Michael Giles, Jr, associate director of operations and project management, said there is a company currently on campus who are looking at restoration for all the damaged facilities.”Hopefully they will tarp this whole top and seal it to where minimal water goes in,” said Giles, who met with the company earlier this morning. “Then we’ll begin the process of taking out the floor and pulling all the moisture out.”Giles said he could not estimate the monetary damage or how much it would cost to repair.”I wouldn’t know where to begin,” Giles said.Before the Rec Center can open, Giles said it needs power.Tamra Jarrett, Rec Center director, said she wants to open the facility as soon as possible. Even without the basketball courts or the indoor track, once the building has been evaluated and found to be safe, she plans to open all the other areas of the center.”We’ve got portable goals, so we’re going to use a part of the tennis courts [to turn into basketball courts],” Jarrett said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s still basketball.”
 
—-Contact JJ Alcantara at [email protected].