The Barometer Online

Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Luke Wenker Curtis Olds, a forest management major, lines himself up for another frame of bowling in the MU.

Seniors in exercise and sport science Eric Pitkanen and Adam Fithian-Barrett are managers of the MU Basement. The two easygoing men have added new zest to the program that has turned around its deficit and produced an estimated profit of $50,000 in the last year.

"We are turning the best sales in the history of this place," Pitkanen said.

The Basement is located under the Memorial Union food court, adjacent to the MU Ballroom. It features 10 bowling lanes, four pool tables, two air hockey tables and 20 video games.

Since its recent expansion, the Basement has facilitated several bowling PAC classes each term and has served as the domain for the OSU Bowling Club.

"We have the biggest television in the MU," Fithian-Barrett added.

In recent years, the customers of the Basement were mainly comprised of several regulars who came consistently throughout the year. The managers said there has been an increased number of different demographics, including high school students and families.

"The board of directors actually voted to shut this place down because it was losing so much money," Pitkanen said.

Pitkanen, who wanted to keep the Basement open to students, spoke with Sid Cooper, assistant director of MU Building Services.

"He has been extremely instrumental with equipment maintenance," Fithian-Barrett said.

Cooper then brought the idea to Michael Henthorne, director of the Memorial Union.

"I was really excited when [Eric] brought this idea to me," Henthorne said. "I regretted that we were financially unable to keep the facility open, and I was very optimistic that he felt so strongly and had drawn up a proposal."

Henthorne said he feels the main reason the Basement has been so successful is due in large part to the new staff training program.

"The staff meets with me for several hours each term," Henthorne said. "We've worked on the atmosphere of the place and the interaction with the public along with different marketing strategies. We were able to cut costs and raise revenue, which is exactly what needed to happen."

The managers at the Basement say Henthorne has been a father figure to the growing establishment.

Continued...

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