Upon entering the campus of Southern University visitors are greeted with sight of healthy green hedges trim to spell out “SOUTHERN”, as one continues over what is commonly referred to as The Hump, the scene may change slightly. Yes, there is still healthy plant life to be seen, but there are several buildings badly in need of repair, roads to be paved and other unsightly eyesores.
“The buildings are just old,” Derric Hawkins, a senior majoring in computer science, from College Park, Ga., lamented.
Eli Guillory, who serves as the university’s Executive Director of Facility Services, agrees.
“Many facilities on campus are outdated … things that are old do not suddenly get new again,” said Guillory. “They just get older.”
But, Southern claims to be doing the best with what they have.
“Money has always been an issue, as the funding comes in we do what we can,” said Guillory.
“We are so underfunded, that we simply have to work with what we have,” said George Whitfield, Professor of Speech and Theater. “But, some thing really need to be done now, the plumbing in the Fine Arts building needs some major attention.”
The university is currently undergoing some reconstruction, including the widening of Harding Boulevard, renovation of F.G. Clark Activity Center, the construction of new baseball facilities and the addition of an elevator to T.T. Allain.
“We are nearing the end of a massive act of reconstruction,” said Edward R. Jackson, chancellor of Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus. “Southern has probably never undergone such major renovations at the same time, which is causing some levels of discomfort for the students, faculty and visitors. But, when these renovations are complete Southern University will be a beautiful campus unmatched by any other school in this area … our dormitories, academic and athletic facilities will all be in excellent condition.”
Although there are several projects already in progress, it is the condition of buildings not scheduled for renovations that concern students and faculty members most. Such as the state of the lower floor of T.T. Allain, the ceilings of William Wallace Stewart Hall, and the overall disarray of several of the older dormitories.
“Buildings such as Jones, Boley and Stewart are the first things you see as an incoming freshman, that is students live, where they schedule their classes,” said Guillory. “These buildings are their first impressions of campus.”
“There are minor repair projects in progress, but mainly my staff and I are just trying to work with what we have, keep all areas clean and neat and in working order.”
Which is where students come in. The areas that need the most work are the areas with the most amount of student activity. Dormitories tend to need major repairs at the end of every school year. The Housing Department estimates that they spend close to $100,000 every summer repairing shower and bathroom fixtures, buying new furniture and fixing various items broken by student usage.
I remember when the freshman complex was built the students took down all of the curtains,” said Whitfield. “I am more concerned with the inside of the structures.”
“Students do not seem to respect property they did in the past,” said Henry Thurman, Architect of Facility Services. “Instead of walking on the sidewalks they walk on the grass, ultimately killing it, they put trash on the ground when they are a few feet away from a trash can.”
It is estimated that it will take upwards of four million dollars to “put a dent in the amount of work needed to get most buildings on campus up to today’s standards,” said Larry McGhee, Director of Facility Planning.
In the immediate future there plans for the demolition of several dorms on campus on campus, including the freshman complex, which includes Jones, Dunn and Boley Hall, Lance and Thomas Hall, the construction of new dorms identical in structure to Shade and Totty Hall are scheduled to began by the end of the summer, the completion of both the Activity Center and new baseball facilities.
“Once things are in place Southern will be the idea picture if higher education,” said Guillory.
“When these things are done Southern will be a place students will be proud to call their home and hopefully they will take more pride in this campus. All I ask is that students follow the Golden Rule, ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’,” said Jackson. “Students need to take care of the school’s property as if it were their own, which in retrospect it is, this is their home … this school needs to become the epitome of the Golden Rule in every aspect.”
Categories:
Home Improvements
June 27, 2002
Bulldozers parked in front of the F.G. Clark Activity Center on a day of rain which halted the continued renovations of the “Mini-Dome.” Photo by Ryan P. Knight/DIGEST
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