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Pensacola State College
“The News The Students Choose.”
First to come, first to go... Plans for demolition, reconstruction of building 1
By Kimberly Bogers
Summer 2016
Extreme makeover: Student Center to undergo upgrades By Victoria Palasciano
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The 60-year-old Baars building will soon be destroyed and replaced with the brand new Baars Science and Technology Building. The college recently received $8 million to begin the destruction process. Construction is set to begin in the summer or fall of 2017. IMAGE PROVIDED BY JOE SORCI
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any things have changed on Pensacola State College’s Pensacola campus since its creation in 1957: students have come and gone, teachers have retired, new teachers have arrived, degree programs have been added and organizations have been created. Very few things have stayed the same over the years. However, one of the things on the Pensacola campus that has remained consistent is the Baars building, also known as building 1. In the not-so-distant future, this is going to change. PSC just recently received $8 million in state funding to go towards the destruction and reconstruction of the Baars building. Dr. Edwards Meadows, president of PSC, explained that the destruction of the 5 wings of the Baars building will most likely take place in staggered phases in order to reduce disruptions as much as possible for students and faculty who utilize the current building. About 9,500 students per year have classes in the Baars building. During the reconstruction, any classes
that take place in parts of the building that are being worked on will be relocated. “Some classes will be moved to building 4, as well as the science building. Other classes in the final phases of construction will be housed in mobile classrooms.” Once construction begins, it is hoped that students and faculty will be able to reoccupy the new building within 18-20 months. The new, 80,000 square-foot building will house a variety of high-tech programs, including computer sciences, aviation maintenance, mathematics, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. Even though the building itself will change considerably, its 60-year-old name will remain the same. “The name Baars will remain a part of the building name, as the Baars family was primarily responsible for ensuring that the majority of the land where the Pensacola Campus is currently located could be acquired,” said Meadows. Mary Ellison Baars was the matriarch of the Baars Continued on Page 3
oming soon to Pensacola State College’s Pensacola campus, with the help of student input, is a new and improved Delaino Student Center. The Student Center, also known as Building 5, is in dire need of an upgrade, and with the help of PSC students an upgrade is in the not-too-distant future. Right now, the main room in the Center is filled with round tables and uncomfortable chairs, with a few couches around the perimeter of the room, giving it an overall unwelcoming impression. Samantha Hill, the Director of Student Affairs, hopes that the college will be able to upgrade the Center very soon, but said they need to receive some input from students as to what types of improvements need to be made. Rennie Lindo, a former PSC student and current UWF student, knows just how badly the Student Center needs an upgrade. UWF has a Center that is open and welcoming for all students, with TV’s for students to play their systems on and more comfortable seating arrangements. 150 PSC students were surveyed anonymously about how much time they spend in the Student Center, what the think about the current Center, and what upgrades they would like to see made in the future. The majority of students only spend a few hours in the Center each month. One student who was surveyed said they don’t spend much time in the Student Center because, “There’s not much to do there other than Continued on Page 4
The current Student Center fails to attract students with its dull cafeteria-esque desgin. Students confess to not seeing the appeal and anticipate changes catering to their interests