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Show THE FORUM - SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 ! i i i i I i Bassis Continued from Page t i 1 and new wiring. Curtis Ryan, Vice President of Finance and Administration, said that the project will be funded by donors and college reserves. So far, the estimated cost of the project is $1,346,000 and it is not yet complete. $718,662 of that has already been given by various sources, bringing the remaining cost to i i $627,338. Donors have pledged to fund $320,000 of that. Students and faculty have also voiced concerns about the loss of classrooms. Nightingale Hall previously had six classrooms and a large photo lab, along with at least five faculty offices. The renovations replaced the classrooms with the I I f 1 1 t t f lounge, the indoor commons and the three media centers. The photo lab was also reduced to make room for the coffee shop. In the end we dont think it results in any net loss. The lab and places where learning is goclassing on are just as important as rooms. said Morgan. The computer labs arent seen as a loss because of the computer initiative Westminster implemented last year. lab is a large foThe cus of the new student center. Last started the year, Westminster initiative, which is geared toward helping students showcase their talents as a whole. The main purpose of the lab is to provide students with the equipment they need to create multimedia for anything they are working on, said Carter. The lab contains such equipment Macintosh comas also has puters and scanners. The lab sound-pro- of recording rooms and a state-of-the-- art poster printer available for student use. Soon there will be rentable digital cameras, video cameras, voice recorders, and other media tools. In the end we don't think it results in lab and any net loss. The places where learning is going on are just as important as classrooms. e-portf- olio The equipment is available for -- People public use, said Carter. dont need to be enrolled in a specific class to have access to the equip- ATnetitiitiAnol ment. People need to understand that but for its not just about students to come together and collaborate to make projects, she said. Most schools are not able to have a dedicated space for this equipment. Here at Westminster, were not just telling students they have to make and not providing an with the equipment. Even though Westminster already has the Shaw Student Center, some administrators think the Bassis Center has more to offer. Morgan said that it should have a lower noise level than Shaw, and has room for different activities that are unavailable there. We also wanted a space that was more open to students that work on a less traditional schedule, and since theyre studying, theyve got to have access to different food. Morgan says that the Bassis Center will be open later to accommodate these students. Ihe Bassis Center foffers a variety iffiffinmilWiTMBii li T"'" Steve Morgan Arlvanrpmpnt T of beverages and food items to help recharge during study sessions. |