$40 million too much?
By Michael and Andy
Should we get rid of a otherwise perfectly useful building while others nearby continue to be horrifically out of date?
Now, we know that the plan is to raze Cole Hall and build a new classroom building, Memorial Hall. This raises more questions than it provides answers. Come now, “just because we’re bereaved, doesn’t mean we’re saps.”
Seriously, $40,000,000? That’s a lot of zeros. Where is this money going to come from? Cash for higher education is scarce in Illinois and has been for years. Where will even $20 million, let alone 40 come from? The plan to pay for the Stevens Building, a project years in the making, may or may not pass in 2009.
I know this is too fresh for some people to imagine but Cole Hall needs to be in use, even if not in the same capacity as before. On Virginia Tech’s campus, Norris Hall is being used to promote peace through academics. Columbine High School was not demolished, though the library was.
The governor should not be making promises that he may not be able to keep, especially when it is apparent that he is being an opportunist for political gain during this high-emotion time. This has become a political game. As a survivor attending the Sunday night memorial service read the handbill, he noted the number of politicians speaking versus students, and tossed the bill down in a gesture of resignation, if not outright disgust. Can’t say I blame him much.
The bill for funding this new building will be bravely sponsored by the local politicians featured in a news conference Wednesday with our Governor. Just look at how cooperative Blago can be, amirite? Forget terms, vote Blago for life, he’s so cooperative. Except, not.
It seems the university has left dissenters with precious little time to make their voices heard, demolition is planned to begin in late spring. Apparently, we’re supposed to just sit back and let things happen according to some grand political master plan.
Throngs of students have passed through Cole Hall in classes during their time at NIU. For some, there are great memories there. If we are not going to be defined by an act of hatred and violence, knocking down a building because of it doesn’t seem like a good way to start.
Seems to us there are only a few realistic options anyway. Knock it down and build another, reopen it, or keep it only as some sort of memorial. We think there is some sentiment on campus to keep the building, but not for academic use. If this is true, we need to make our voices heard, and fast. What do people think? Speak up.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I’ve been bragging on you and your new blog at The Capitol Fax.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Thanks, yinn. Some pretty interesting discussion there. At least people are being skeptical.