| OCR Text |
Show !MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2000 PAGE 3 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL CAMPUS MEWS School use in jeopardy Future for the middle school weighed after surprising costs arise BY SHELLY BROWN SENIOR STAFF WRITER According to Neal Cox, SUU director of public relations, it will cost approximately $9,313,000 to renovate the middle school on Center Street and get it up to current building code standards. The middle school, which SUU purchased from the Iron County School District for $8 million, is part of the 16-acre parcel thafincludes the land being used for the new Physical Education Building. There are two parts to the middle school, the older part, which was built in the 1930s, and the newer part to the west, which was built in the 1970s. Iron County School District sold the middle school because it plans to use the current Canyon View High School building as a middle school, possibly as early as next fall, said Cox. Even though the current Canyon View High School was built less than three years ago, it is already too small to accommodate the number of students. A new high school is being built and should be finished next fall. According to Cox, SUU was considering using the newer part of the middle school for the College of Education. "The intent, originally, was to .9ive a much bigger, much needed home to the College of Education,· said Cox. "[It's] been housed in Old Main for 102 years." "However." he added, "about a year ago, April, 1999, is the exact date, we were reminded that when there is a change of ownership of a [state-owned] building, the safety factors, those related to [AMA] and fire dangers, those kind of things, have to be upgraded to the year 2000 level." This renovation would cost more than $9 million, more than half what the new Physical Education Building is costing. Right now no specific decisions have The middle school, recently purchased by SUU and located on Center been made about the middle school. Street, will cost approximately $9,313,000 to get the building up to "A lot of things are running through our current code !jtandards before it can be used by SUU. minds. Would we be better off to just tear the building down and start over again? "They have been promised use of that facility this Things that have been discussed include the (current] summer and the following summer, so it would be pretty PE Building. Parts of it have been condemned, but parts hard to tear the building down and still .keep that of it could still be used. We wouldn't have to upgrade promise,· said Cox. that space, so maybe temporarily that is where Cox did mention that a second study on the middle education could go. No final decisions have been school has shown that cost for renovation could possibly be cut down to $7 million. made." said Cox. Tearing the building down would possibly create "The issue is the change of ownership. What will it problems. The gymnasium in the old part of the building take to put [the building] in a condition so as we would is used by the Shakespearean Festival for its Medieval be able to enter the building. We don't want to violate Feast. any laws; we recognize the need for safety." said Cox. Olsen looks back at a year of student leadersh_ ip SUUSA President Kristian Olsen cited establishing better relations between SUU and the community as student government's number one accomplishment this year. "I think that "'(e built a better relationship with the community,· said Olsen, a senior business major from Blanding, Utah. "We got the chamber of commerce position. Also we are working on getting a street name changed, which at this point looks like it might happen. We've also improved student turnout to activities and to athletic events, which has been a great thing. We even got the band there.· Olsen also listed improved relations with the administration and more student involvement in government as accomplishments for the year. Olsen said that he feels that what was probably the high point of the year was the rally at the capitol. · one of the biggest things was the rally wanted, and that was hard." that we did at the capitol. We had all Olsen also praised the SUUSA those students from SUU tum out in members with whom he has worked supporting our school, and just showing with this year. "I love 'em,· said the love that we have for our Olsen. "They are some of my school. We had the dearest friends. When you work second largest group on such a level, you have to of students even become friends or else you · though we were the become enemies. Thank second farthest away." goodness we became friends. One thing that Olsen They mean the world to me.· wishes he could have Olsen said that he is excited accomplished was getting about this year's candidates better publicity for SUU . "I for student government. "I'm wish we would have been excited about them [the able to get more press for candidates). I think that SUU, especially in the everybody that is running northern half of the state. We is definitely qualified. I did get some press, but I just think it will be a good would have liked our publicity ert year next year.· to have been just a little bit istiart ots Olsen also had some advice better. It was nothing like I Kr for the candidates. "Love the school. If you don't love the school, then you won't do a good job. That's the most important thing. If you are in it because you think it will make you look cool, or it will be a good resume builder or for any other reason than because you love the school , then you won't be able to do the best job that you can." Olsen will not only be leaving SUUSA, he will be leaving SUU because he graduates this spring. He said that the first thing that he wants to do is go to Milt's Steakhouse, which ls located in Cedar canyon. "My plan after graduation is to go to Milt's! I have never been, .and the day I get my last final finished , I'm going to Milt's. I'm going to treat myself." Olsen also has a more serious post-. graduation plan. "Seriously, I want to get a job. I would like to go to work for Franklin Covey, or somebody like that." Dialog.u e focuses on reaching university 'vision' (continued from page 1) mathematics who has taught at SUU for 30 years, criticized the session, saying he felt it was a waste of time to present scenarios that had no chance of being accepted. Steven Heath , professor of mathematics and interim department chair, asked if there were other visions besides the six presented. Bennion invited suggestions. John Ault, professor of psychology and department chair, said he felt students who come to SUU generally view the university in a positive way, but asked if any market analysis had been done to determine how SUU, in fact, is perceived. John Groesbeck, chair of the business department. responded by citing a recent survey of SUU freshmen indicating that 25 percent of the respondents said they Dixie College situation and urged the have no intention of graduating from administration to take a more aggressive here. posture. • "The question is how do we compete He evoked audience support when he and survive?" Groesbeck asked , adding exclaimed, "We need some pit bulls. We that schools such don't need any as Dixie College poodles here.· and Utah Valley Terry Alger. 'We need some pit bulls. We State College professor of don't need any poodles "pack the students chemistry and a in.· He said SUU here,' said Richard Dotson, former SUU could either "jump administrator, told associate professor of into this sea of Bennion he was mediocrity" or offer chemistry and chair of the confident the SUU what he called faculty would back physical science department. the "high-quality administration education for more on any strategy it deserving students.• took to protect SUU's interests regarding Richard Dotson, associate professor of Dixie College and maintaining SUU's chemistry and chair of the physical presence in Washington County. science department, said he perceived a When asked again about possible sense of complacency regarding the layoffs in connection with this academic reorganization , Reutzel replied that no faculty would lose their jobs. He said attrition would prevent jobs from being lost because an estimated 34 percent of SUU's faculty was expected to retire over the next five years. During his legislative briefing, Bennion cited the legislature's approval of two master's degree programs for SUU and additional money for faculty salaries as key victories. He said because SUU last year receivea funding for its new physical education facility there was no expectation this year of funding for capital projects. The major capital project that was funded i's a $38 million physical plant renovation at Utah State University. Another open forum on academic reorganization is scheduled for tomorrow at 3 p.m. I . I• |
