The University of Arizona Pep Band played the fight song on the Mall yesterday as part of a brief ceremony that dedicated a new $12,000 stage to the campus community.

At the 20-minute dedication, Al Tarcola, Facilities Management director, and Associated Students President Rhonda Wilson spoke of the benefits of the new permanent stage on the UA Mall.

"I think it's very nice that the university has done something to save student resources. It is money that can be put into other things to benefit student life," Wilson said.

Francis Garcia, pre-pharmacy junior, said the money was well spent. "It doesn't look as tacky as the fake stages they used to put up all the time," she said.

During the ceremony, Facilities Management personnel were acknowledged for their work in constructing the stage.

The concrete stage, which measures 20 feet by 30 feet and was financed by Facilities Management, is a permanent performing arts area built for student and faculty use at no cost. It is equipped with electricity, a sound system and a ramp that provides access for the disabled.

Robert Preble, Facilities Management events coordinator, said the new stage is going to save the university a total of $4,000 a year.

Previous costs of hiring laborers to haul construction materials onto the Mall and set up a temporary stage have been eliminated with the permanent setup.

The estimated cost of building the stage was $12,000, and an additional $2,000 was spent on a new sprinkler system that was installed around the stage area.

Events have already been planned for the stage, such as Family Weekend, scheduled for October.

Construction of the new stage had been in the planning phase for 10 years. The stage, which took two months to build, was completed before fall classes began.

"We had some additional money and resources. Everything came at the right time," said Tarcola.

"In about three-and-a-half years it will have paid for itself," Preble said.

A deciding factor of building the new stage was the loss of the Facilities Management storage house on Cherry Street, in which stage materials were kept. The storage house was torn down for safety reasons.

Other speakers were Saundra Taylor, vice president of student affairs and Carol Thompson, associate dean of students. About 30 people attended the dedication.

Anyone wishing to use the stage for events can reserve it through the Memorial Student Union Catering Office.

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