Hundreds of students at Florida A&M University stood outside in the scorching heat and the rain to celebrate the grand reopening of Galimore Lanes on Friday. Student attendees bowled for free during the grand reopening. But, just 48 years ago students experienced the same excitement.
“The bowling alley opened in 1962,” said Director of the Office of Student Activities, Saundra Inge. “My husband came here as a freshman, and he said the bowling alley was brand new.”
The Student Union proposed a bill to the 39th Senate, and they approved it and allocated $215,000 to renovate the bowling alley. About $50,000 was spent to put in a new system that cleans and oils the lanes.
In 1991 the bowling alley had a few upgrades, but this summer the mechanic put in a new computerized scoring system, automatic pinsetter and wireless internet and more.
“Every penny was used,” said Inge. “Students need to know that their activity and service dollars do work for them and their enjoyment.”
The bowling alley is located right across from the Rattler’s Den and one student who previously worked in the bowling alley has seen a major transformation.
“I think it was a complete 360,” said Floide Shelly, 21, a third-year business and administration student from Miami Gardens. “They put in flat screens, you can actually keep score without using a paper and pencil now, and they remolded the pool hall and they resurfaced all the pool tables and they have a new design on top of them.”
Groups and organizations are ready to kick off the semester in the new bowling alley according to Inge she has received requests forms from students, but students are only able to reserve four lanes at a time. The student discounted rate for bowling is $2.25, $4 for nonstudents and 2.25 for bowling shoes.
However, students are not the only one’s taking advantage of the new bowling alley. Departments on campus such as the plant operation and police department plan on having bowling teams.
But for a student who is all too familiar with the bowling alley admits she has seen a difference.
“This is like a social area for me,” said Jerusalem Barnett, 21, a third-year allied health cardiopulmonary science student from Miami. “I actually see more students coming in here to actually bowl because before I didn’t see that many students coming in here to actually bowl.”