Wednesday, January 26, 2000
UC to add life to campus
'Main Street' would offer fun, food
BY DANA DiFILIPPO
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After years spent improving academic buildings, University of Cincinnati leaders are turning their attention to students' other needs.
Such as movies, ethnic food, roller hockey and coffee cravings.
The UC Board of Trustees on Tuesday heard an update on the school's “Campus Life Project,” which would be part of a “Main Street” through campus lined with retail shops, student housing, cafes and recreation space.
It has a price tag in the “low $200 millions,” most of which would come from student fees. It is expected to be done in four to five years, said Dale McGirr, UC's vice president for finance.
Administrators have been working on the plan since trustees gave the conceptual go-ahead in November 1998. Tuesday's presentation was the most detailed peek many had received since then. Planners hope to secure financing approval from the board in May.
The project is crucial to UC's competitiveness, said Mitchel D. Livingston, vice president for student affairs and services.
Sixty percent of UC's 34,000 students live on campus or within walking distance, and the campus' current layout isn't inviting, Mr. Livingston said. This proposal would draw more students onto campus around the clock, he added.
Highlights include:
• Student union. The 140,000-square-foot building would have a 250-seat movie theater, sports and game lounge, food court serving burgers and ethnic food, meeting rooms and study lounges.
• Braid Building, so-called because it weaves through campus. This 68,000-square-foot building would more than double the current space for student groups. It would include a 24-hour coffee shop, sandwich shop, 100-seat computer lab and business center.
• Recreation center. This 140,000-square-foot building would include indoor soccer and a roller hockey rink, climbing wall, running track, racquetball courts, 1,200-seat hall for gatherings and concerts, convenience store, six basketball courts, two swimming pools and workout rooms.
• Student housing. A 224-bed wing — dubbed the “Wiggle Worm” because of its long, curved shape — would be built next to the recreation center.
Planners also aim to:
• Replace large dorms with more and smaller dorms.
• Build a “one-stop center” with such services as financial aid, registration and parking in one place.
• Work with nearby neighborhoods to develop the campus' perimeter.
One listener questioned UC's priorities.
“I'm afraid the kind of message we send building this is for hanging out and eating and enjoying yourself,” said Nancy Hamant, an alumni representative to the board.
Former Faculty Senate Chairman Lanthan Camblin urged trustees to consider beefing up security if campus would grow more crowded.
Some students praised the project — even though it will be paid from their pockets.
Seventy percent will come from student fees. Planners estimate it will cost students another $100 per quarter; student fees now cost $185 quarterly. The remaining 30 percent will be paid by people who rent the facilities, commercial interests and donors.
“I shouldn't have to walk to TUC (Tangeman Union Center) after taking a test I just bombed and still feel depressed,” said Jahi Edwards, 21, of Columbus, a fourth-year student in information systems. TUC, the current, cramped student union, is about 70 years old.
In other business, trustees elected Benjamin Gettler, president and board chairman of Vulcan International Corp., as board chairman; George A. Schaefer Jr., president and chief executive officer of Fifth Third Bank, as vice chairman; and Hamilton County Prosecutor Michael Allen as secretary.
Voters tired of the trivial
3 engineers face firing in street deception
UC to add life to campus
Ex-Red indicted in deadbeat-dad case
Japan mission aims for trade
Legislator: Payday loans need rules
Bitter cold should end by weekend
Blackwell N.H. point man for Forbes
City wants buyouts back
Delhi man charged in threats on Furman
Fired Rumpke driver gets $500,000
Roeding gets surprise challenge
Compact could have killed mine
N.Ky. gets its share of budget
NKU considers faculty review
Northern Ky. primary picture
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
The 'acting' White House
GET TO IT
Getting married? Be in our 'Love Story'
Music takes center stage at Sundance
Ask away on school split
Funds to allow buyout of flooded homes
Health board OKs license for landfill
Land rezoned for new megamall
Man held on $500K bond in shooting
More options for prepaid tuition
New board to review property code rules
School treasurer leaves for Mason
Scoring error fixed; man to be on court clerk ballot
Series of ATV thefts targeted
Students sentenced in plotting massacre
Teacher testifies she was shot at
TRISTATE DIGEST
