editorial McCullough renovations unnecessarily rushed

Author: [no author name found]

Despite the supposed freeze on new construction, the College's recent campaign to renovate a number of old buildings on campus has created its own fair share of commotion. While the administration has its reasons for each undertaking, its decision to renovate McCullough this fall represents poor timing and poor planning. Administrators argue, convincingly, that the renovation of the social center is necessary, but failure to anticipate several consequences of the renovation is troubling.

For one, scheduling the renovation at the same time that the Proctor terrace is under construction means that one side of the campus will be over-burdened with work projects. On this point, the closures of McCullough and Proctor represent the (albeit temporary) demise of two social spaces on campus. The administration ought to think carefully before it strikes too big a blow at the social infrastructure on the campus at a time when students already see the social scene on campus faltering.

Though the College is making some laudable efforts to account for closing McCullough, its efforts may be insufficient. Administrators have not adequately reassured students that moving the mailroom to nearby trailers will not disrupt this critical service provided by the College.

The driving force behind the renovation is the need to improve the social space and improve its capability as a performance space. While many students will agree that the social space needs an overhaul, and it is commendable that the College consulted performance groups while making its plans, it is unacceptable that the administration cannot guarantee alternative performance spaces for the over 60 events that are scheduled for the social space next year.

While pressing, the renovation of McCullough can, and should, wait. The administration seems to be rushing this process at great cost. Doug Adams, Director for the Center of Campus Activities and Learning, says that the administration will look to other venues in an effort to fill the social void left by McCullough. But students should demand that the administration present them with a comprehensive plan for dealing with the loss before plans for the renovation reach the trustees. Students should be promised that performances will not be cancelled before this construction plan is approved. The bottom line is that with the loss of Proctor terrace and McCullough -both of which are spaces that serve different, but equally important, social roles -students should feel confident that the already-floundering social scene will not suffer more than it needs to.

The Campus urges the Board of Trustees to delay the plan to renovate McCullough until the Proctor terrace renovation is finished and until the College administration can offer a more comprehensive plan for dealing with the social impact of closing McCullough. While we are confident in students' ability to adapt to the changing physical face of the campus, the decision to remove both McCullough and Proctor Dining Hall from standard operations next fall is a terrible disservice to the significant portion of the student body who resides south of College Street. If both are inevitable, we hope that administrators - with the help of students, naturally - will turn to creative solutions to craft social spaces.