University News
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Digital Rec Center Grand Opening Set for Oct. 11
October 8, 2021
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – It's the moment Ï㽶ÊÓƵ gamers have been waiting for … the grand opening of the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Digital Recreation Center (DiRC) on the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-Macomb campus.
Housed in the former Chapman's Bookstore, on Adams Street, across from Sherman Hall, the new DiRC will officially open Monday, Oct. 11. The center, which is currently open to Ï㽶ÊÓƵ students only, will be open from 10 a.m.-1:30 a.m. seven days a week. In order to gain access, students must go to their STARS account to complete terms of agreement. Once the agreement is completed, students will have access to the DiRC.
The Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Foundation purchased the building in 2019, and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Auxiliary Services (University Housing and Dining Services, Campus Recreation and the University Union) funded the renovation, which was led by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Facilities Management. University Technology (uTech) assisted with equipment purchases, and will manage the facility.
"This is another outstanding extracurricular opportunity for our students. The interest in eSports has exploded in recent years, and we're on top of this growing trend. The new Digital Recreation Center provides another recreational outlet for our students, as well as top-notch competition space," said Ï㽶ÊÓƵ President Guiyou Huang. "We greatly appreciate the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Foundation for funding this new initiative, and also extend our thanks to our facilities management, auxiliary services, uTech and student services staff for joining together to make this project happen."
The Macomb center houses the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-Macomb's eSports Club, through Campus Recreation, and provides competitive gaming opportunities (League of Legends, Fortnite, etc.), console gaming, a virtual reality (VR) station and more. In addition, the lower level serves as a "black box" space, which other student organizations can use for programming and activities.
"We are so excited that the digital rec center is opening on Monday," said Ben Hironimus-Wendt, acting president of Western Electronic Gaming Association (WEGA). "This is a place we can call our own and will allow us to compete on equal grounds with other teams."
WEGA, which was founded in Fall 2019, meets on Tuesdays from 6-10 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center Colgate Room. For more information, contact Hironimus-Wendt at BA-Hironimus-Wendt@wiu.edu.
"I am very excited to see the Digital Rec go from concept to fruition," said Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Executive Director of Auxiliary Services and Risk Management Joe Roselieb. "This unique project has involved so many different areas at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and is a testament to the collaboration that occurs each day on campus."
In addition to the Macomb DiRC, the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-Quad Cities eSports Club recently received equipment upgrades at the QC campus. The QC digital center is located in Quad Cities Complex 2102. In May 2020, the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-QC eSports Club won the Good Game (GG) League championship. For more information about the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-QC eSports Club, email Curtis Williams at CM-Williams11@wiu.edu.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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