Binghamton University has decided to finalize the ‘neighborhood style’ room designs ‘ rather than the current corridor style ‘ for the renovation of Newing College and Dickinson Community residential halls, despite student outcry against said plans, said James VanVoorst, vice president for administration, in a meeting Wednesday night between administrators and student representatives.
According to VanVoorst, the neighborhood style is meant to maintain the corridor approach to living, but removes the communal bathrooms. They will be replaced with one shared, semi-private bathroom for every three bedrooms.
The Student Association executive board and the residential community government presidents were the only students invited to this meeting. VanVoorst was accompanied by Terry Webb, director of Residential Life; Anna Cornell, director of finance/planning for the office of the vice president of administration; and Lloyd Howe, interim vice president for Student Affairs.
The decision comes after months of discussion with students and faculty.
VanVoorst said that student opinion has been taken into account and current plans reflect a compromise between the two visions.
‘If you take a look at where we started and where we are today, the changes implemented clearly show that the discussed issues have been taken into consideration,’ he said.
Members of the SA, however, feel that this is not a sufficient compromise and the wishes of students need to be better met.
‘Students have spoken on this issue loud and clear,’ said Matt Landau, vice president for academic affairs. ‘These are not just students in Newing and Dickinson who have voiced opposition, but also those who live in Mountainview, Hinman, CIW, Susquehanna and Hillside.’
Landau created the Facebook group ‘KEEP NEWING & DICKINSON THE WAY IT IS,’ a forum dedicated to rallying students against these plans. At the time of this printing, the group had grown to 321 members.
The Newing College Council, a group consisting of the Newing executive board, resident assistants and students, took a vote last spring semester. The result was 38-1 for the residential community to maintain corridor-style living, including communal bathrooms.
‘It is apparent that the administration has their own agenda and came to us to say ‘well we asked you.’ They certainly have asked us our opinions, but they do not choose to listen,’ said Bradley Small, president of the Newing College Council during the time of the vote.
According to VanVoorst, the total cost of the project is estimated at $300 million, some of which will come out of students’ pockets. But pushing the project forward will actually reduce construction costs, he said.
‘There will be an increase in student fees of all residents, which will go toward paying off the debt for the project, just like with Mountainview. By moving the project schedule ahead just a year, we can save $8.6 million,’ VanVoorst said.
The decision to move forward with the corridor designs is only an early step in an ongoing process. The next items on the table include designs for the fa√Éßade of the buildings, as well as the collegiate center. More student focus groups are on the horizon to discuss these topics.
‘We are working to retain and improve the culture of the buildings,’ said VanVoorst. ‘There are a lot of good things coming; it’s a very exciting time.’