SAW space named for Ellen Whale
Professor Emerita of Kinesiology Ellen Whale walked around in awe as she received a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing construction of the Richard and Norma Small Athletic and Wellness Center (the SAW).
As contractors showed Whale around during a May 2022 tour, you could hear her say:
“This is so exciting. I can’t stand it.”
“This is awesome.”
“I’m so happy for our students!”
But as the tour rounded a corner into the new conference room space, Whale’s visit became something more.
“I think the other exciting thing about today is that as a coach and administrator you got to make an impact on young people’s lives, one of which has chosen to honor you with this space,” Head Volleyball Coach and Deputy Director of Athletics Jeff Meeker told Whale.
Whale then pulled a purple card off the wall to reveal a sign that said “Ellen Whale Conference Room.”
The room now forever holds Whale’s name following a generous $100,000 gift to the Athletic and Wellness Facilities Project from an alumna who wanted to honor Whale for all she’s done for Cornell athletics and women’s athletics, in particular.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” Whale said. “This is so sweet.”
Whale is no stranger to the changing scene of athletics at Cornell College. She became a professor and coach on the Hilltop in 1978 when women’s athletics was just entering the collegiate athletics space. Whale fought for funding and space for women’s teams to compete shortly after Title IX passed–paving the way for expanded opportunities for women in sports.
She recalls when women’s sports joined men’s sports in the current gymnasium during her first year on the job. It wasn’t always an easy transition.
“It was a long hard road sometimes,” Whale said. “You know, the students really make it worthwhile. The men’s coaches who were the curmudgeons eventually came around. Now, if you come in here, especially our male students would say, ‘What do you mean there was no women’s athletics?’ It’s just part of who we are now.”
Whale served as Professor in the Kinesiology Department (1978-2018), head volleyball coach (1978-1994), head women’s track coach (1979-1983), head women’s and men’s swimming coach (1982-1985), and athletic director (1989-1997, 2001-2002) before retiring in 2018.
Now she’s looking forward to seeing the next generation of students enjoying the new space that she says was so greatly needed.
“I’m so glad the college is doing this,” Whale said. “This is wonderful, and this whole building is just beyond belief.”
The $19.5 million Athletic and Wellness Facilities Project is part of the Greater > Than Campaign for Cornell College. The project will enlarge and renew the existing athletics facility resulting in a contemporary health, wellness, and sport center for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. It is scheduled to open in August 2022.
