2008 Woodie Awards
Commons buildings on hold
Andrea Gissing
Issue date: 1/27/05 Section: News
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President Ronald D. Liebowitz will announce this week key changes to the approach the administration will take towards development of commons infrastructure. Liebowitz's plan calls for postponing the renovation of Proctor Dining Hall in favor of building more senior housing.
Liebowitz is quick to note, however, that current students should not expect to see new senior housing in their time at the College. While reluctant to attach a timeline to the new development plan, he does not foresee that any new buildings would be completed before 2010. "For now, we're going to complete Atwater," said Liebowitz, "then we will move on to senior housing."
Through his talks with students, Liebowitz found that the general concern students had with the commons system was the inequalities in housing. While students liked their commons those not in Ross or Atwater commented on inequality in housing. "To them, almost unanimously, agreed that if senior housing was equalized, virtually all of the desire to leave the commons would lessen," said Liebowitz.
"We really haven't had a comprehensive plan out in the community," said Liebowitz about the course of commons system development. When the commons system was implemented in 1998 each of the separate commons came up with mini-plans, with general goals as to what they eventually would look like. The assumption was that they would develop the commons one by one, without a firm plan beyond Atwater. Now, Liebowitz plans to reprioritize the development, first by putting residence halls before dining halls and letting the time frame of development be dictated by finances. "If money were no object, all of the commons would be developed at once," he said.
Raising the quality of senior housing in all commons Liebowitz hopes will encourage seniors to remain on campus. "I believe seniors have an incredible role to play on campus," he said. As well, once the commons have equitable senior housing built, the periphery houses would revert back to places for faculty - young faculty especially - to live, enabling them to be closer to the college community.