Pauley walkway to close sporadically

By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff

Students who walk along the south side of Pauley Pavilion to get
to class will find it fenced-off today, and on every game day for
the rest of the mens’ basketball season.

Beginning with today’s game against EA Sports, the
perimeter of the building will be expanded to adjacent Spaulding
Field, cutting off the walkway in between that many students use to
reach campus.

“This will be a big hassle,” said third-year
psychology student Trey Swann. “It’s easy to cut
straight across when you’re coming from Strathmore
(Avenue).”

Students will be rerouted to walk around the Acosta Training
Center ““ which lies between Pauley Pavilion and the Los
Angeles Tennis Center ““ and then continue on Bruin Walk.

The perimeter fencing will be maintained before, during and
after the basketball games, according to Marc Dellins, associate
athletic director in charge of sports information. He added that no
foot traffic will be allowed through the area during these
times.

The added perimeter will serve as a security checkpoint,
following steps taken nationwide at high-profile sporting events in
response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Spectators will be
subject to search for potentially threatening items.

According to the athletic department, Pauley Pavilion is known
to draw a crowd of up to 12,819 for mens’ basketball.

For the most part, fencing will only be up on game days. When
the fencing is up during non-game days, Dellins said, gates will be
open to allow students to walk through.

This walkway blockage occurs in the midst of ongoing
construction on campus, namely in the intramural field. The IM
field is being excavated for the construction of a 1,500-space
underground parking lot.

“It’s a tough time being a student here with all of
this construction,” said Robert Naples, assistant vice
chancellor of student and campus life, adding that the Pauley
Pavilion decision was made “because it was the safest thing
to do.”

“We err on the side of providing a secure environment for
our community,” said Naples, who is also the dean of
students.

Some say the fencing-off of the walkway will not have an impact
on their routes to campus. “It will be a longer walk, but
it’s not that big of a deal,” said Danny Yadidsion, a
first-year undeclared student.