CSU dedicates intramural plaza for third president

On Friday, November 17, 2023, Charleston Southern University held a dedication of the new intramural plaza along Alumni Drive.  

Costin Plaza is named for Dr. Dondi Costin and his wife, Vickey, for their dedication to student-centered projects during their tenure as the third president and first lady of Charleston Southern. Joining the Costins in celebration were former President Dr. Jairy Hunter and his wife, Sissy, as well as CSU President B. Keith Faulkner and his wife, Patty. 

Faulkner said, “Dondi and Vickey’s hearts lie with students. They exemplify servant leadership.” 

The plaza welcomes students, employees, and alumni as a functional entrance to the intramural complex completed earlier this year. It hosts four fire pits with comfortable outdoor seating, permanent seating structures, a grill, picnic area, and a large porch to host small events and tailgates. 

“How grateful we are for CSU,” Costin said. “You molded us and loved us back. This plaza is exactly what we had in mind and then some.” Costin now serves as the president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. 

Judy Hetz, Board of Trustees chairperson, and Gloria Thiem, a current trustee, headed the committee to build the plaza. “Today is a dream come true,” Hetz said at the event. “Students wanted more space to gather. Kristin Thiem [landscape architect and daughter-in-law to Gloria Thiem] took this space and made it spectacular.” 

This addition to the new intramural complex brings this long-awaited project to a close. The complex, with artificial turf and outdoor lighting, offers Charleston Southern University students the opportunity to play in the evenings after class or on weekends. The $1.8 million project was placed as one of highest priority per the 2020-2025 University Strategic Plan, along with other student life-centered projects. The campus dedicated the field in the spring soon after it opened for student use.