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Students approve bond
SCSU students have voted overwhelmingly in favor of increasing student activity fees to finance a $16 million bond for three campus projects.
A total of 1,986 ballots, representing some 13 percent of SCSU’s population of more than 15,000 students, were cast Nov. 19 and 20 in a referendum requesting student consent for fees to increase to pay for the bond. Of those who voted, 73 percent were in favor of the bond. A vote by at least 8 percent of the student population was needed in order for the referendum to pass.
With the approval of students now acquired, SCSU will use $5 million of the bond to expand the student union located in Atwood Memorial Center, another $5 million for a $9.7 million multipurpose stadium complex with a seasonal dome and the remainder of the bond for a recreation center. Students were given the choice in the referendum of remodeling Eastman Hall for the recreation center or building a new stand-alone center adjacent to Halenbeck Hall – 67 percent voted in favor of the latter option.
Ron Seibring, Campus Recreation director, said the stadium planning committee, which had begun work some time ago, would continue to meet, while planning committees for the two other projects would be set up soon.
“The recreation center committee needs to be started,” he said. “We need to figure out how to secure the services of an architect. The design of the recreation center needs to compliment the stadium. We already have an architect for the stadium and we need to ensure that work for both are moving along together.”
Seibring said that Steve Ludwig, SCSU vice president for administrative affairs, would start the bonding process. However, one of Seibring’s goals was to ensure that students were well represented on the planning committees.
“That process will be coordinated with Shaje (Shahjehan Ganny, student government president) and the student government,” he said. “I personally would like students who are interested (in the projects).”
Ed Bouffard, Atwood Memorial Center director, said the planning committee for the renovations to the center would be put together in December. He said Margaret Vos, last year’s director who is currently on sabbatical and will return to her position next year, will spearhead the committee.
“The committee will consist mainly of students,” Bouffard said. “(They will be) from student cultural groups, student organizations, University Program Board and others.”
The first thing the committee has to do, he said, was to decide what architectural firm will be hired to work on the renovations.
“The committee will decide on what issues are important,” he said, “and a Request For Proposal will be published in architectural papers that come out.”
All this would be done by spring semester, Bouffard said, and several sub-committees would be formed to come up with actual plans.
“We’re looking forward to getting the maximum amount of student input,” he said, “to make sure that the money gets spent the way which best meets the students’ needs.”
Plans for Atwood include improvements to the cultural center, an increase of space for student organizations and additional meeting space at the upper level. An enclosed walkway between Atwood and Centennial Hall is also in the works.
The multipurpose stadium complex, to be built at Halenbeck Field, will be a lighted facility with a new type of synthetic turf resembling grass and is not as hard as other synthetic turfs. The dome is expected to be an inflatable one and will cover the field in the late fall, winter and spring to allow the stadium to be used throughout the year. More parking spaces also will be added around the stadium.
The new recreation center will include a 10,000-12,000 square foot weight room and cardiovascular center, lounge space, refreshment area and meeting areas, an information center and possibly a rock climbing wall.
Work on the first of the projects, the stadium, will begin fall semester 2002 and is expected to be completed for use as early as fall 2003. Construction of an addition to Atwood and the recreation center will begin fall 2004 and is expected to be completed the following year. The remodeling of Atwood is expected to commence fall 2005. However, all plans are subject to further discussion and student input, with students having a majority of the say on the planning committees.
With the referendum passed, student fees will go up beginning fall semester 2002, with yearly increases totalling a maximum of $4.50 a credit to a maximum of 12 credits by the end of 2005. Currently, students pay $15.66 per credit hour to a maximum of 12 credits per semester.
Leslie Andres can be reached at: [email protected]
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