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The Battalion Page 3A • Juesday, September 2, 2003
Building on excellence
Campus construction, improvements affect different sectors of Aggi e Uf e
By Lauren Romero
THE BATTALION
When Sabre Schronk was helping her
daughter choose a college, the look and
feel of the campus comprised a large part
of her decision. She wanted something
that looked appealing and felt safe.
“One thing that sold us (on Texas
A&M) was that the campus was so pret
ty and clean,” Schronk said.
Looking back now, Schronk and her
daughter Mindy, a senior agricultural
systems management major, are glad
they chose A&M.
Schronk said the present construction
around campus would make it difficult
for incoming freshmen moving in and
navigating campus. She said she is glad
she didn’t have to deal with the construc
tion during her daughter’s move-in day
back in 2000.
Currently, the A&M campus has
undertaken numerous construction proj
ects, and many directly affect the student
body. Throughout the Texas A&M
University System, there are $575 million
in construction projects, including 24 proj
ects that are either up for bids, in program
ming, in design or in construction.
Timothy Donathen, director of
Facilities Planning and Construction for
A&M, said students frequently voice
their concern about how campus renova
tion projects affect their wallets
Donathen said the majority of the con
struction funding does not come from
student tuition and fees. He also added
that the projects are only authorized
when the money comes from the
University’s budget. This money comes
from a variety of sources such as grants
from the state, gifts from donors and
bonds. If the undertaken project is an
auxiliary such as housing, parking and
bookstores, then students indirectly pay
fees with rent, parking rates and the cost
of books.
Ami Davis, a senior psychology major,
said the campus con
struction projects are a
wise use of funds.
“It’s the nature of a
college campus to be
perpetually under con
struction,” Davis said.
“If we’re not constantly
improving, the campus
stagnates — especially
when you’re dealing
with a campus that’s
over a century old.”
Student input for cam
pus design plans are also
considered.
Donathen said the
designers of student-
focused buildings seek student input
through various interviews and focus
groups.
“We do not want to follow an attitude
in this department that says we make the
decisions for what the University needs,”
he said. “If I ignore the customer, then
more than likely it will not be a success
ful project.”
One project in the works is the reno
vation of Davis-Gary Residence Hall.
Donathen said the purpose of the renova
tions is to offer students the convenience
of living on campus while having the
amenities of an apartment. The designers
plan to create apartment-style housing
with living and kitchen areas.
Donathen said administrators are
using the project to test out this new form
of housing.
The new plan for Davis-Gary will
become available for bidding this fall.
Debra Reffner, a senior journalism
major, said she preferred the old floor-
plan for Davis-Gary because it allowed
her to meet a lot people. Because reno
vating Davis-Gary would decrease its
occupancy by half,
Reffner said the con
struction will make it
harder to find a student’s
choice of on-campus
housing in an already
saturated market.
“Dorm life is sup
posed to be a communi
ty-living style of hous
ing. Dorms are not
apartments,” she said.
Another addition to
the campus will be the
multi-purpose Residence
Life and Student
Services Building.
Donathen said the
facility, slated for a location near Sbisa din
ing hall, will come with a price tag of more
than $13 million and will have game rooms,
computer rooms, study areas, gathering
spaces and multiple offices for Residence
Hall staff and student service programs.
Reffner said the building would have
been nice when she lived on Northside.
“It would have given students something
else to do,” she said.
Liz Spiekermann, a senior anthropology
major, said the projects aren't big issues that
adversely affect her life.
“They are often finished over vacations
so as not to interrupt student life, and I
appreciate that,” she said.
Spiekermann chooses to focus on the
future effects the present construction
will have on future students.
“I hope the future generation of
Aggies appreciates our daily inconven
ience,” she said.
It’s the nature of a
college campus to be
constantly under con
struction... if we're not
constantly improving, the
campus stagnates.
— Ami Davis
Senior psychology major
Construction on the new Chemistry building near Zachry continued Mondav as
students headed back to class.
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