OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion

Capital Building

Approximately once every ten years, the Capital Campaign starts afresh and makes plans to develop projects using funds from donors. The goal is to raise $1 billion, with some of the funds going toward improving student life. This could involve funding the building of an Undergraduate Learning Centerand an East Campus Learning Center, expansion of the Student Center, spending more money on landscaping and creating a Student Life endowment fund, among other possibilities.

The creation of an Undergraduate Learning Center would be beneficial for the entire student body by bringing together essential resources. It would also be much more easily marketed to donors wishing to leave a lasting legacy on campus because it will be a physical building. However, placing a learning center near on east campus in addition to having one next to the library (both of which are possibilities) is unnecessary if both centers are built to serve similar purposes.

While money appropriated to landscaping keeps Tech beautiful, the current budget is plenty. Flowers are changed out several times a year, lawns are well kept and leaves are blown, raked and swept away shortly after falling. This money should be put towards more student life activities, with a Student Life endowment fund being an excellent possibility.

The endowment fund would be established to sponsor concerts and other social events. While "Help Ludacris come back again," may not appeal to older generations of alumni, it is a good way of encouraging younger alumni to become regular donors.

At this time, it is important to SGA that the student body express the type of Student Life improvements they desire to be considered. It is essential for students to act quickly and cohesively because the submissions for the Capital Campaign have been rumored to be due early in the fall semester.

Building frustrations

The construction on and off of campus has become a major, yet understandable inconvenience. At times, it seems worse because the DOT is also working on the Fifth Street bridge in addition to the Klaus building construction down the street. While construction is not favored at any time, it is better for the majority to be going on during the summer rather than fall when more people are around campus.

A nice side effect of the construction has been the Trolley and Stinger being temporarily re-routed to actually go through the campus instead of circling the perimeter.