Best Colleges Online recently released their list of the top ten Most Bike Friendly Campuses Across America. OSU made it at number nine on the list. There are many resources and programs on campus that have led to this ranking. Students have access to used bikes for sale on campus through surplus, at Dixon Recreation students can access free bike repair, and around campus there is plenty of lockers for storage. The rankings stated that:

Oregon State University’s status as a bike friendly university has a lot to do with its home, the city of Corvallis. This college town is known as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in America, second only to Davis, Calif. The city has an astonishing bike lane infrastructure: 97% of its streets have bike lanes, and by percentage, more people take trips by bike in Corvallis than any other Oregon city. It’s no wonder that this culture has spread to OSU, with 30% of students biking to campus.

So for all the new students coming to campus this fall, you might want to bring you bike along!

-KT

The field house has served many purposes during its 100 years on campus. It has been used as a military barracks, a horseback riding area, indoor soccer field, and military drilling grounds. This new phase of McAlexander will provide more space for students to be active. The climbing facilities include a repelling wall that is 39 feet high and a bouldering wall 15 feet high. The space will be managed similarly to Dixon Recreation Center.

McAlexander Renovation

Another project ready for use are the intramural fields across from Dixon Recreation Center. The goal of this project was to create new fields and a park-like setting.

The fields have winding pathways accessible by bike and pedestrians, lots of lighting, benches for resting and enjoying the view, and sidewalks to link the location to other parts of campus. New restrooms, drinking fountains and pavilions are also in place. New tennis courts, a track and a basketball court are almost complete, although their courts won’t be surfaced until drier weather. A new sand volleyball court has also been created to the south of Dixon Recreation Center. (It) is ready for use but will not be opened until landscaping around the court is completed.

Both of these facilities provide students with a great opportunity to stay healthy and try new activities! Go check out the new facilities at McAlexander for yourself tomorrow night!

-KT

More details here and here.

Well done, Miles Dodge, Michael Tasman, Joey Jenkins and Ben Misley!!!

When a British expedition put the first two men on the summit of Mount Everest in 1953, their achievement fired the world’s imagination. Since then about 3,000 people have scaled the world’s highest peak — and three of them, remarkably, have come from Corvallis.

On May 22, 1963, Willi Unsoeld became just the 14th human to stand atop Everest, pioneering with Tom Hornbein a daring route up the previously unclimbed West Ridge. As his partner snapped a picture, Unsoeld proudly unfurled the Oregon State College Mountain Club flag on the 29,028-foot summit.

You can just barely make out the “OSC (OSU was Oregon State College at the time) Mountain Club in this photo.

Of personal interest, this article also mentions the Everest Experience of OSU Alum Stacey Allison who also happens to be from my hometown of Woodburn, OR.

Even today, OSU students can still take advantage of mountain climbing opportunities at OSU through our Outdoor Rec Center and the Dixon Recreation Climbing Wall.