UNIVERSITY CONSIDERS CENTRAL COMMONS

Southeast Missouri State University is progressing with plans to transform Parker Hall into a student center. In turn, the University Center would become more of a community center. It would also house the health and leisure departments and continuing education classes.

It is a workable plan that would provide students with a more accessible commons area. The Parker Hall renovations would be paid by student fees. That's how the University Center was financed and built in 1975.

The University Center's location has limited its use by students. It is situated on the south end of the campus, far away from the largest residence halls and buildings that house many of the evening classes.

Parker Hall is certainly more centrally located and would offer an opportunity to enhance student center offerings.

A recent study underscored the importance of location. It found that 61 percent of the weekly student traffic occurs on the north end of the campus.

The university hopes the new center will be in operation within three years. But there is much work to be done.

The Henderson Street tennis courts would be replaced with a parking lot. Parker's aging swimming pool would be replaced, a move that's probably long overdue. The pool has posed continuing maintenance problems.

There are plans to keep the first floor of the commons open 24 hours a day. This area would house a computer lab, food courts and space for student organizations.

The new center would also house lockers for commuter students, banking services and possibly a post office. An expanded bookstore and textbook service would also be relocated to the new center.

Many universities are building more lavish commons -- complete with food courts and computer labs -- as a drawing card for prospective students.

Some Southeast officials are hoping this new center will both boost enrollment and retain students.

They're not alone in this thinking. A number of other Missouri universities have recently built new student centers or remodeled existing facilities.

It's certainly worth the try, especially since this improvement wouldn't come at the cost of taxpayer dollars.