Faculty has mixed reviews on locations of new offices

by Beth Conahan staff writer

The packing and unpacking is almost complete and faculty and staff are finally settling into their new offices.

Grace Hall has been successfully transformed from faculty offices back to a residence hall. Faculty has scattered to offices in the Mansion, Widener Center and even Founder's Hall and first-year girls have moved into their former of- fices, refinished with new carpeting and freshly installed showers and facilities.

"It was a challenge but you just have to do it and move on," says Shirley Dixon, coordinator for diversity initiatives and student liaison for service learning. She moved from a cozy office in Grace Hall to a bright and spacious office built for her in the Widener Center, in the former newsroom.

Moved into her new office, with sun pouring through her windows and her belongings unpacked and in place, it looks as though she has been in that office for years. She's content with her new location, which she feels has brought her closer with "students, faculty and staff."

After eleven years there, Dr. Joseph Romano, professor of philosophy, left his Grace Hall office and moved to the third floor of the Mansion. His new office is half the size of his former, so it has been a challenge finding space for his things.

Romano feels that his new location has begun to hinder his use of time in his daily routine. The distance from faculty secretaries, the Registrar's Office, the copy room, etc. have slowed down his routine. Romano remains positive however.

''There's no question that we've been inconvenienced but it's temporary so it's ok," says Romano.

'Toe faculty made this move or the sake of the common good and we always try to help students as much as we can."

Despite the changes made in Grace Hall to make it a residence hall, it is expected to revert back to offices in a year.

Another professor who made the change from Grace Hall to the Mansion was Dr. Leonard Norman Primiano, assistant and acting head of religious studies. It took him some time to unpack and arrange his office."Both the packing and the unpacking of my office was extremely time consuming over the summer. This was time that I would have preferred to spend working on my scholarly research and writing because the summer is the only time when I can fully concentrate on such activities. But, like so many faculty members, I realize how important it was to move and sacrifice our time for the good of the college."