There could not possibly have been a worse time to close down the Old University Union. Knowing full well that enrollment is likely to increase in the coming years (why else is Newing College being rebuilt? Certainly not for the benefit of the current students.), I can appreciate the delicacy of the situation. Something needed to be done. Why not nip the problem in the bud?
This is not the logic employed by the University. I know this because, as maintenance has repeatedly reminded me during my time on campus, we don’t believe in fixing things until they’re already broken (except, of course, in the less-than-successful case of the BUSI to BU Brain conversion).
I find myself nonetheless stunned by the all-around gross negligence and utter incompetency surrounding the implementation of the pretty construction plans and diagrams we’ve been shown.
In a year where growing national economic woes drove up the number of accepted students who chose to attend Binghamton University (incidentally, congratulations on what may be one of the most important fiscal decisions of your life), was it simply more entertaining to mess with everything at the same time and see what happened? Housing went online, the new BU Brain platform debuted, Newing got flattened and the Old Union, in its entirety, closed down.
From the bottom of my heart, University administration, I laud your decision to rip apart the school I’ve so enjoyed, particularly in the prime of my senior year. I’m glad I’ll always remember the good old days of blockades and cramped classrooms as I move on to greener pastures. In the meantime, your new landscaping will comfort me — at least until the snow flies. In October.
Not only did you ruin my free cookie Thursday nights at Late Nite Binghamton’s Underground Cafe, you took away the rooms that typically housed guest speakers, random activities and my shelter at the bus stop. You ruined my indoor thoroughfares, forced me into the Downtown Center yet again, and still my professors and clubs can’t find any space in which to host their meetings, classes and events.
The Fine Arts departments have suggested that outside departments pay to use spaces available in the Fine Arts Building. Shame on you, in a time when all departments are hurting from budget cuts and resources are tight, for demanding compensation for rooms you couldn’t possibly be using all the time. It’s almost criminal.
This is not the time for politics in departmental interaction. If partisan politics haven’t been proof enough of the ineffectiveness of vengeful bickering and useless stalling, then at least a quick trip into a local elementary school ought to suffice. The Golden Rule is still in effect, kids.
We’re all suffering because of mismanaged construction, increasing student population and a resources crunch of heretofore untold proportions. We need to be more understanding, and more than anything, we need to work together to teach the University administration a thing or two. Or more, I’m flexible.
I’m a uniter, not a divider, but unfortunately, physics and English classes don’t typically blend well. Such being the case, it’s time to get creative and it’s time for departments to take the lead in working for the current students. The University certainly won’t.