fPage J^our, Tfii
Dorm Renovation Budget
By: Justin Ramb
Staff Writer
In October, 1988, The
Chronicle of Higher Education
released a report that echoes
the situation here at Montreat
today. It stated that the cost
of fixing and updating all the
crunabling and outmoded
buildings on the nation's
campuses may be as high as
$70 billion, while urgent re
pairs alone would cost about
$20 billion. The study indi
cates that about one-fourth of
all college facilities are in need
of some sort of repairs, re
newal, or replacement. It also
suggests that current spend
ing on building maintenance
is inadequate, with colleges
and universities deferring
about $4 in repair monies to
other projects, for every one
budgeted dollar that they
spend.
Locally, here at Montreat-
Anderson College, most stu
dents feel the same way about
their own college campus.
Many students continually
ask themselves and their
jDeers, "What is being done
for renovation and repairs?"
And yet, no one, not even the
administration, can come up
with a definite answer. When
asked if the administration
“iHe Metfleia Weel^y
Published weekly by the Student Activities Committee
ot Montreat-Anderson Coflege, Mootreat, N.C. 28757.
Advertising rates are avalable upon request.
Editor.. Ken Schmidt
Ass't Editors L,.. MattheWHaney
Shannon Hbdgins
John Ireland
Business Manager .Kim SlUiman
Staff Fhotographer. Mark Tucker
Staff Writers. .... Shayna Siekkienen-
Sarah Whitecottbn
Susan Long
Justin Ramb
Traci Folk
' Naj Alicea
Faulette Mixon
Rose Ann O'Shields
Circulation: 800 Weekly
knew of the problems or
complaints in the dorms.
Dean Hargrove responded, "I
am aware of some." So, we
have come to a point where
not only the Montreat stu
dents want to know what is
going on, but also their par
ents.
There also needs to be two
points brought out from the
start. First, is that in 1981,
Montreat-Anderson College
launched the "Decade of the
Student" campaign to raise
$11 million for such things as
continuing services, the Belk
Campus Center, and renova
tion of dorms. The money
allotted for the renovations
was $660,000 dollars. But,
when asked if all the money
was raised and spent on reno
vations, no one knew. As far
as we know, the dorms have
yet to be renovated although
it has been more than ten
years since this money was
set aside; many students
agree that it shows. Second,
in my interview with Mr.
Walter Hall, Montreat-An-
derson's Business Manager,
he was able to give me the
amount of money spent this
year only on repairs and reno
vations:
M-AHall; $19,220.00
Howerton: $12,391.00
Davis: $ 6,843.00
McGregor: $ 5,727,00
TOTAL: $44,181.00
Students, staff members, or
even parents may ask them
selves the same question,
'Where did all the money go?
Granted that there were a few
emergencies (example: the
furnace in M-A Hall), house
keeping costs, and repairs to
damaged items; but I do not
see any improvements."
In each dorm, the stu
dents can come up with their
own versions of repair needs
for their living facilities. In
my interview with Dan Hen
sley, the head maintenance
director, some interesting
points were brought up about
the renovations and repairs.
Mr. Hensley stated in agree
ment with Dean Hargrove,
that if there was not as much
damage done in the dorms,
then there would be more
money for renovations. Most
repairs are done at the end of
the school year, before all the
conferences. The residents of
these conferences damage the
dorms once again and the
maintenance crew is again
called in to repair the dorms
before school starts in the
fall. When asked which dorm
is the most destructive Mr.
Hensley immediately re
sponded, "Howerton."
"Is the new dorm in or
der, or should we halt the
plans and renovate the exist
ing buildings first?" I asked
Mr. Hensley. He responded,
"The new dorm is in order
and in much need, but there
needs to be continual renova
tion for the dorms. We re
ceive 10 to 12 work orders a
day for repairs on dorms
which mostly include dam
age repairs."
Please read that last quote
very carefully. Itstates, "there
needs to be continual renova
tion for the dorms," which in
turn states that there is not
any continual renovation
right now. Why not?
Recently, a petition was
circulated which asked the
administration for much-
needed washers and dryers.
When asked about the out
come of this request Mr.
Hensley stated, "All parts for
the washer and dryers have
been ordered. Plumbing and
wiring for two new washer
and dryer sets have been in
stalled in M-A Hall, and
should be ready in two
weeks."
When asked about the
washer and dryer situation.
Dean Hargrove responded,
"The washer and dryer di
lemma has been looked at."
So, just as many other
college and universities
around the country have
neglected repair, renewal,
and replacement on their
campuses. Montreat is not
any different. Much needs to
be done before the new dorm
is to be built. All dorms need
new paint, carpeting, and
lobby furniture. All radiators
and pipes should be updated
with modern heating facili
ties, so that students may
study and sleep in peace. The
water situation needs to be
resolved. The washer and
dryer dilemma needs to be
more than "looked at" The
school should back up their
words in the handbook by
providing proper laundering
facilities which will actually
DRY your clothes and not
only test their ability to with
stand space exploration. As
most other campuses
throughout the country, cable
television should be available
in all dorm rooms. Also, all
lobbies should be equipped
with such entertainment re
sources. Repairs and renova
tions should be met for the
facilities that "we" live in
before a new dorm should be
constructed.