HAMMOND, Ind., — A little mortar, some concrete blocks, and a bit of rerouting electrical wires and plumbing. Those were parts of the remodeling job in the women’s locker room and the concession stand in the Fitness & Recreation Center last summer.

The women’s locker room was expanded 15-feet specifically for the basketball team to create an area for game day meetings and viewing basketball game videos and DVDs. Expanding the locker room also follows the guidelines under Title IX, a 1972 federal ruling that provides equality of opportunities in men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports. Both squads now have private locker rooms separating them from the gymnasium locker facilities used by the campus members and the public.

“It was simply a compliance issue that we needed to address,” Assistant Vice Chancellor of Health, Recreation & Sports/Athletic Director Bob Bunnell said. “We want to provide our student athletes with the same opportunities, which include the areas where they prepare for their games.”

While the locker room expanded, the concession area was reduced and remodeled creating a more efficient use of the space. Overhead and wall-attached fluorescent lighting was added. Walls were painted with the traditional university colors, black and Vegas gold, and tiles were placed over the grey cement floor.

Also, table seating was replaced with circular stainless steel bar-high tables, and a stainless steel serving table and storage cabinet replaced the painted wooden serving stand. A new menu with additional selections from last year will be ready for the 2008-09 season.

Inside the gymnasium, graphic artist John McNulty painted the peregrine mascot inside the center circle of the wooden floor, and extended the 3-point stripe one foot further out to 20 feet nine inches for men’s basketball. The NCAA rules committee changed the 3-point stripe distance last May and the NAIA followed suit.