Barometer The Daily
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 • OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
DAILYBAROMETER.COM
VOLUME CXV, NUMBER 78
PAGE 8
SPORTS
8 – Gymnastics and Wrestling
NEWS
2 – Sorority prepares for annual Mock Rock event
MEN’S HOOPS: Beavs lose to Washington State 83-73
FORUM
4 – Taxing your weight 4 – Yeas and Nays
Three campus buildings visibly ready for renovations n
Some who spend time in MU, Benton Hall, Snell share on necessity of reconstruction By Alex Hilborn
The Daily Barometer
Hannah Gustin
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Benton Hall, one of campus’ oldest buildings, is plagued with construction and aesthetic problems.
Older buildings around campus provide a unique challenge when it comes to maintaining the structures for modern use while still preserving their historical value. The buildings that comprise Oregon State University’s campus range in age from Benton Hall, built in 1887, to newly constructed projects like the Linus Pauling Science Center. While newer buildings often have designs that fit the planned usage of the space and the technological innovations necessary for modern use, older buildings around campus must undergo upkeep and renovation to keep them suitable for the needs of current occupants. For example, the Memorial Union, built in the late 1920’s, has subsequently gone through several modifications over the decades to make the space usable today while accurately maintaining its historical aesthetics. When construction on the MU began, the building was not expected to eventually receive additions on the east and west ends which would ultimately alter its floor plans. “The addition changed the path of travel,” said Sid Cooper, assistant director of Memorial Union Building Services. “Part of our work is making the building easier for path of travel and people with disabilities.” With the increased foot traffic of the current student body, the modification of the building has caused congestion problems around peak activity hours of the school day. The MU Building Services staff hopes to alleviate some of the building’s current traffic flow problems, as non-invasively as possible, by putting up better signage to direct people where to go. One of the first buildings on campus to do so, the MU, has also recently undergone evaluations on how to make the space more accessible to people with disabilities, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, for future use. “One of the big challenges is pre-
sentation,” Cooper said. “How do you preserve the old, but for new use?” The MU Building Services staff uses a variety of techniques to keep the building looking classy but useful, such as repurposing building materials from one part of the building for use in a different section. The MU also utilizes student’s knowledge and skills to help renovate the building as a means for conserving student fees. Often space in the building gets modified to serve new functions, as in the case of the bookstore turning into a second ballroom to meet reservation demands. The MU shows how an old building can still serve the school usefully with some retooling. Sometimes, however, no amount of clever renovations can turn a building previously meant for one purpose into a space that functions well for another. The music department currently finds itself struggling to make Benton Hall serve its needs. “The building is often ineffective for music-making. If music was a science, we would be in the wrong lab,” said Steven Zielke, director of choral studies. “At one point we figured we had 1,000 students. The building is crumbling under all those feet.” With bands and choirs performing in classes too small for their size, Benton also doesn’t have sound-proof walls or proper acoustics, making teaching, learning and playing music difficult for staff and students. The sounds produced by bands can get so loud that volume levels cause hearing damage. Visible cracks also run up the side of the building. “The only way for us to grow is in a new space,” Zielke said. “I don’t think we will be able to repurpose the building for our needs any better than we have thus far.” The music department has attempted, with little success, to make renovations to the building, mostly through personal fundraising. All attempts to modify the space so it functions better for the music department do not change the fact Benton Hall would better serve the specific function the designers initially built it for. “Benton Hall is the most historic building on campus that has yet to be renovated. It would make a won-
Student Incidental Fee Committee hears fee requests n
Three different organizations presented to the SIFC, received tentative approval of funds By Don Iler
The Daily Barometer
The Student Incidental Fee Committee met last night in the Memorial Union Journey Room to hear presentations and tentatively approve student fees for three different entities. The committee heard budget presentations from the Student Sustainability Initiative, Oregon State University Athletic Department and the Auxiliary Activities Business Center. Requested fee amounts from all three were tentatively approved. The Student Sustainability Initiative requested a fee of $11.86 per student per term, which was approved 5-1 by the committee. This resulted in no change or increase to students from the previous fiscal year. The Student Sustainability Initiative reported successfully serving a larger student body and See SIFC | page 3
derful entry point for visitors to campus. Imagine renovating it and making it a showcase for OSU’s 150-year history as well as the receiving area for new students and their families,” said Lawrence Rodgers, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “This is dependent on finding a new home for music, which has done an outstanding job of adapting to a building that was never intended to house a music department. Everyone is thus interested in finding a new and improved home for music, but the challenge is funding. The ideal solution, according to Rodgers, would be an expansion of LaSells to create a world-class student arts and communication facility. Dean Rodgers further proposed that if remodeled, LaSells could serve as a hub for the whole School of Arts and Communications. The idea to repurpose two of the school’s already existing buildings could better meet the needs of all parties involved, and makes use of the resources already present on campus, making the school more attractive to future students. Occasionally, such creative measures no longer remain an option due to the poor structural conditions of some buildings. Snell Hall, built in the late 1950’s, got constructed as a dorm in a huge hurry to house an influx of students coming into the university under the GI Bill. Multiple aspects of the structure make utilizing its space difficult and even unsafe. The building has no air conditioning system and an antiquated heating system. Coffee-colored stains run down the walls of the building due to the curtain wall on the exterior retaining water. Water gets left in the curtain wall so that mold doesn’t grow. Soil analyses of the ground the building sits on show that the building might prove insufficiently safe in the case of an earthquake. At the moment, Snell must remain in place as no other location exists to house the groups that operate out of the building since funds for the Student Experience Center have been denied by the legislature. Alex Hilborn, staff reporter 737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com
Faculty Senate discusses oversimplified teacher evaluations n
In faculty senate meeting, new deans of schools, Public Employee benefits brought up By Kristin Pugmire The Daily Barometer
Alexandra taylor
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
The Student Incidental Fee Committee hears testimony from the chair of the SIFC relating to the committee’s operational fee.
Yesterday afternoon, the Oregon State University faculty senate met for the second time this term. The following subjects were discussed: •During committee reports, Dave Berger of the Faculty Recognition and Awards Committee provided an update on faculty award nominations. FRAC is hoping to increase the number of nominations this year, and encouraged nominators to double-check eligibility criteria and complete forms online; •The Student Evaluation of Teaching Task Force presented its final report and proposal. The See SENATE | page 3