Southeast building $490K gathering spot

By the end of the summer, university officials hope to turn an area between Scully and Rhodes halls into a tranquil gathering grounds, complete with lush greens and a waterfall. Their goal is to improve traffic flow and safety, make the area more ADA accessible, and increase aesthetic appeal. Construction of the plaza began this month.

The Southeast Missouri State University project comes with a hefty price tag: $490,000. The Board of Regents heard an update on plans at a meeting last week, during which they voted to raise tuition 5.6 percent.

There are two other phases to the beautification plan, costs undetermined. One would focus on the "central pedestrian corridor," a lighted walkway that stretches north from the power plant to Rhodes Hall. The other phase has yet to be decided, but options include putting a lower grade to steps south of the power plant or renovating a former PE field by Parker Commons.

"We're trying to make it a space that is going to come alive. It's a very utilized area, and it needs a lot of attention," said facilities management project manager Tom Hadler. "There'll be a lot of seating, a lot of landscaping, and a lot of space for people to be outside and enjoy the plaza."

But the plans have drawn skepticism from some students and faculty, who question the university's priorities. A recurring theme at a February planning forum was the need for upgraded science labs, which are slowly being renovated. At the current rate, improvements to the labs, some of which are nearly 50 years old, will take 10 years.

At a follow-up meeting in April, three people stood up to discuss the need for facility improvements to go beyond cosmetic changes, drawing applause from the audience.

Dr. Dennis Holt, the vice president of administration and enrollment management, said the situation becomes a matter of balance. "You can't ignore the attractiveness of campus. For many prospective students, it's the feel of the campus that can make the decision for them," he said, saying that between 40 and 45 percent of the university's revenue comes from students. "We're in the business of marketing to prospective students."

However, creating an attractive campus cannot come at the expense of academic programs or services, he said. "We shepherd our dollars very carefully, always balancing one thing against the other," he said.

Holt said costs to the plaza project were cut by involving students. Construction management and landscape design students developed a conceptual plan and construction documents, and a group of eight students will help with the actual construction of the plaza this summer.

"Involving students gives us hands on work with stuff we're going into the field of," said Jessica Uhrhan, who spent class time working on plans for the pedestrian corridor this past semester. She said construction of the corridor won't begin for at least a year.

Past beautification projects on campus include a waterfall by Kent Library added in 1998 at a cost of $60,000, part of which was donated. In 2005, two waterfalls were added to an entryway at Broadway and Henderson Avenue. Another fountain was added this school year near the alumni center.

"I do attribute part of our success in increasing our market share to efforts made to improve the campus," Holt said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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