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Commentary: MD Stadium Authority and Coppin State University Join Hands

Posted on: Monday, 3 October 2005, 21:00 CDT

By The Daily Record Editorial Advisory Board

We at the Daily Record Editorial Advisory Board salute the Maryland Stadium Authority and Coppin State University for their efforts to revitalize Coppin by the construction of a new physical education complex on Coppin's campus.

Coppin, a residential liberal arts university located in the northwest section of the City of Baltimore, provides academic programs in the arts and sciences, teacher education, nursing, graduate studies and continuing education. An historically black college, Coppin has a culturally rich history as an institute providing quality educational programs and community outreach services. It offers 53 majors and nine graduate-degree programs. A fully accredited institute, Coppin serves Baltimore residents as well as students from the United States and around the world.

Coppin was founded in 1900, at Douglass High School on Pennsylvania Ave., when the Baltimore City School Board initiated a one-year training course for the preparation of African-American elementary school teachers. By 1902, the training program was expanded to a two-year Normal Department within the high school, and seven years later it was separated from the high school and given its own principal.

In 1926, this facility for teacher training was named Fanny Jackson Coppin Normal School in honor of the outstanding African- American woman who was a pioneer in teacher education. Fanny Jackson Coppin was born a slave in Washington, D.C. She gained her freedom, graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio and founded the Philadelphia Institute that was the forerunner of Cheyney State University.

By 1938 the curriculum of the normal school was lengthened to four years, authority was given for the granting of the Bachelor of Science degree, and the name of the Normal School was changed to Coppin Teachers College. In 1950, Coppin became part of the higher education system of Maryland under the State Department of Education, and renamed Coppin State Teachers College. Two years later Coppin moved to its present 38-acre site on West North Ave.

In 1963, the Board of Trustees ruled that the institution's degree-granting authority would no longer be restricted to teacher education, but other Bachelor Degrees would be conferred as well. The name of the school was changed to Coppin State College. In 1967 the first Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred. In 1988, the college became part of the newly organized University of Maryland System (now the University System of Maryland).

The student population is comprised of nearly 4,000 students who are enrolled in day, evening and weekend undergraduate/graduate courses. Many are Baltimore residents from very diverse ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Coppin has graduated thousands of alumni who are making a tremendous impact in the state of Maryland in various fields.

In January 2003 Coppin State College was recommended to receive $8 million in the state capital budget for the University System of Maryland by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The funds were to acquire property to the northwest of the campus. This business park property stretches north of the campus and extends to Gwynns Falls Parkway. Once acquired, the plan was to erect a new physical education complex at this location. With the able assistance of the Maryland Stadium Authority that plan is now coming to fruition.

The budgetary help came as a result of a report from a team headed by John S. Toll, president of Washington College. A 100-page report was released that recommended a revitalization plan for Coppin. The report, which was mandated by an agreement between the state of Maryland and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR), recommended that the State invest over $300 million in facilities and a 60 percent increase in the operating budget over the next decade to compensate for years of under- funding and neglect.

Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele noted at that time, After reviewing the Toll Report and the college's master plan, this administration recognized that acquisition of the business park was crucial to the college's growth and continued service to community in West Baltimore and the State of Maryland.

In April 2005, Coppin State University submitted the formal request for the Maryland Stadium Authority to assist in planning, design and construction of a physical education complex on the campus. Approval to undertake this project was given by the General Assembly in May. Funds allocated to date for the planning, design and property acquisition were $2.7 million in Fiscal 2005 and $3.9 million in fiscal 2006. The Stadium Authority is responsible for procuring, coordinating and managing the project design, cost estimates, construction and commissioning services.

The project will include a physical education building of 167,000 square feet. This will house an arena with 2,600 fixed and 1,500 portable seats, an eight-lane competitive pool, auxiliary gym, racquetball courts, instructional space, suites/offices for the Athletic Department, multi-purpose space and support/general use building space.

It will also include a facilities management/public safety building of 67,000 square feet, consisting of offices, shops, central storage, support facilities and outdoor storage area and parking lots.

On Sept. 20, The Maryland Stadium Authority approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Coppin State University for the design and construction of a new physical education complex and a facilities management/public safety building. With the MOU in place, the Stadium Authority will begin the design and development phase of the project with selection of the architect anticipated in early October. We are excited about beginning this new venture with Coppin State University, said Carl A.J. Wright, the Stadium Authority's chairman. We expect this project to be challenging and fulfilling as our other partnerships with Maryland universities.

When completed this will not only provide a state of the art physical education facility for Coppin, but further help to stabilize this depressed area of Baltimore City.

Source: The Daily Record (Baltimore)

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