Campus
anxious over science building delay
By
Lauren Nelson
On-line Forty-Niner
Construction
of the new science building on East Campus
Drive is one year behind schedule making
science professors and university officials
anxious.
The
project, which was scheduled to be completed
in January of 2003 should be finished in
January of 2004, said Scott Charmack, associate
vice president of physical planning and
facilities management.
"Being
a year late is huge, it's abnormal. We are
extremely unhappy," Charmack said.
He also said he believes that once construction
is complete, it will be the best science
building possible. "The building just
offers opportunities for students."
The
project is still within the budget at just
more than $30 million for the 90,000 square
foot building and new state of the art equipment,
according to facilities management officials.
The
delay is not only making extra noise for
students and more dust on campus, it is
affecting the plans of professors and students.
Most professors who were expecting to hold
classes in the building this semester were
disappointed that they wouldn't be able
to make the transition when planned.
Elizabeth
Eldon from the department of biological
sciences said that though it is frustrating,
she is glad it is happening at all and is
willing to patiently wait out the process.
"We
think it's a good thing, we're just waiting
to get over there," she said.
Along
with Eldon, many professors are excited
about the advantages of the new location.
Several professors expressed their frustration
over how faculty and science departments
are scattered throughout different buildings.
The
new science building will allow the entire
science department to be on the same floor,
making it easier for the professors to interact
with each other.
It
will also minimize the chemicals that enter
the classrooms and labs and through the
use of technology, the new exhaustive system
and ventilation system will make science
experiments safer and more accurate.
There
will also be a common conference room where
professors will be able to share ideas and
make more opportunities for students.
"The
fact that it will have new equipment makes
it all the better. Now when we do experiments
half of the equipment doesn't even work.
We have to get into even larger groups and
you don't learn anything because you can't
see," said marine biology student Melissa
Rodarte.
The
real hardship is that new faculty have to
wait to begin research because they are
supposed to work in the new research labs,
said professor Robert Loeschen.
"We
are ready, we are only waiting on the contractors,"
he added.
Charmack
said he believes that with the increase
in tuition, it would be a shame to not be
able to use the new science building soon.
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