For many students, the bottlenecked PE hallway has changed their route or even the location of their classes.
So what do students think about it and what does the school have to say?
The hallway will open up into the foyer of the science building. The hallway, however, will be closed until the science building is completed in 2012 – that means 17 months of detours.
Evan Anderson, a sophomore Digital Media student, said, “The campus is crowded, so it sucks that it’s taking two years.”
But the end product will be worth it. The wider foyer will certainly ease traffic flow and provide additional study space.
Students studying the sciences will benefit directly from the construction. A new science building accommodating more classes and allowing for smaller class sizes will be a great addition to and improvement in their education.
“It makes me more willing to accept [it],” said Marie Faleafa, a sophomore in the Nursing track.
The school is asking for everyone to be willing to patient with the delays, and administrators believe that more than just the people who will use the future building will benefit.
“Right now,” said Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning Jim Michaelis, “if they can just be patient during the construction period… it’s going to be a lot better once the science building is built.”
Then what is it besides an irritation for students that won’t benefit from the construction, either because they’re finished with their science distributions or they are on track to graduate in the next two years?
Rangahangdumahnguyonrahmkie, a double major in linguistics and music, said, “It’s in the way. I’m trying to get to class on time, if not early.”
Students in similar situations as Rang, whose classes are on opposite ends of the campus, see it is a problem. The detours aren’t helpful.
“A lot of our classes have been moved across campus,” said Mary Peay, a behavioral science major.
But for others, it’s not a problem and barely noticeable past the eyesore of construction. Some may even find that taking a step outside of UVU’s famous hallways may provide them with a newfound shortcut across campus.
Michaelis said, “We know it’s an inconvenience to them now, but if [students] will just be patient for a year, we’ll have everything back together.”
Perhaps the attitude and tolerance of students is what the school needs right now, especially as we prepare for construction elsewhere on campus. The next project the school has planned is the Student Health and Wellness center, which is projected to start after planning and bidding commences next year.
We’re in for a long haul, but in the end, we’re in it for a great new campus, too.
