Last week’s referendum revealed student opposition toward parts of the current renovation plans for the East Campus, and the administration’s plan for a meeting Monday is just another reason for students to be dissatisfied, according to Student Association President David Bass.
An information meeting open to the public is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the Public Service Program Center Dining Room ‘ located between the Glenn G. Bartle library and the Computer Center ‘ during which University officials will present the floor plans and placement of the buildings, along with pictures and an overall update as to what people can expect, according to James VanVoorst, vice president for administration.
Bass said he wouldn’t call the function a town hall meeting, but an ‘administrative information session.’ Still, he did ‘get VanVoorst to consent to staying afterwards to answer student questions.’
VanVoorst recognized that the SA had some ‘sensitivity’ with the title of ‘town hall meeting.’ He said that if someone wanted something clarified at the meeting he’d be willing to do so, but that the administration has taken student input into account.
‘It should be clear that we have listened,’ he said. ‘We had the project committee, we’ve had a number of town hall meetings, we’ve talked to various constituents.’
‘And we’re at the point now where what we’re saying is, ‘OK, we’ve heard you,’ VanVoorst said. ‘Some things definitely you’ll see in the plans, other things maybe the decision didn’t go exactly the way you would have liked but this is the way we’re going to move forward,’ VanVoorst said.
Last Wednesday SA members organized the East Campus Referendum in an effort to further voice their concerns to the administration.
Approximately 90 percent of students voted for two separate dining facilities, and about 300 out of 411 voters wanted to stick with communal bathrooms as opposed to the University’s current plans ‘ which call for semi-private bathrooms, corridor-style dormitories and a single collegiate center for both communities.
Bass also said he found the location and time of the meeting to be inconvenient for students.
‘I’m very concerned that it’s just a meeting to say that we’ve had a meeting and not a real opportunity for students to ask questions,’ he said. ‘Every attempt that I made to move this to the Union where students could definitely find it was rejected ‘ so it just shows an unwillingness to really make this convenient for students.’
To counter the possibility that students may be unfamiliar with the location of the meeting, Bass has planned a ‘teach-in’ before the information meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the East Lounge of the Old University Union.
‘It’s going to be all about students talking with students,’ Bass said. ‘I also want it to be a bit of a rally to make sure that students are well-prepared to ask some tough questions in the administrative meeting because I really think this is going to be one of our last opportunities to ask some tough questions on the Newing-Dickinson project.’
Despite Bass’ concerns, VanVoorst considers the location of the meeting to be accessible and said he hopes for a ‘good turnout.’
‘We’re at the center of campus, I think it’s available for everybody,’ VanVoorst said. ‘It’s right on campus, it’s at a time we’ve had these before.’