Meredith
March 6,2002
Hi
ERALD
' Volume XVIII, Issue
Dorm breeze ways ^structurally
unsound,’ says architect
They will be demolished over Spring Break and finished by fall.
□ Breezeways
need updating --
duct tape on
columns was hiding
rust.
Rkbi-cca Barringer
staff Wnter
Facilities Services admin-
islrated the closing of the
breezeways between campus
dorms last Thursday on the
advice of the College’s
architects who said the
structures were rusting and
structurally unsound. The
breezeways. which have not
had a major renovation since
the 1960s, are scheduled to be
tom down over Spring Break.
‘The prudent thing to do is
to close them. Our long term
goal is to replace them," said
Tom Sherry, director of
Facilities Services.
The breezeways between
Stringfield and Vann dorms
and Brewer and Faircloth
dorms will be closed for the
remaining portion of the
week until students leave for
the week-long break. Bill
Wade, vice president of Busi
ness and Financc, said that
immediately demolishing the
breezeways was not expected.
While the administration
has been considering renova
tions for the breezeways for
the last few years, Wade said
that after Monday’s inspec
tion, the architects “said it
would be better in the long
run to tear the breezeways
down and start from scratch.”
“Because we are starting
over," said Wade, “it gives us
the opportunity to make
the breezeways more
cosmetically appealing and
more functional. We are in
the process of deciding what
will be possible.”
Wade said that the
breezeways would not be
completed until the beginning
of fall semester, but the area
that connects the breezeways
and the sidewalks will be
opened up after Spring Break
to allow students access
through the first floor.
Padlocks will remain on the
doors of all additional floors to
prevent students from trying to
access the area of the
construction breezeways.
“I am glad we will get this
walkway back," said Junior
Ashley Horn. “The
breezeways provide me with a
shortcut to most of my
classes."
Sophomore Mary Rudd
expressed a student concern
about the padlocks being on
the residence hall doors.
“Having padlocks on the doors
seems to be a fire hazard,” she
said.
Joe Brown, maintenance
supervisor, said that the
padlocks were placed on the
doors as a way to protect
students from walking into
the breezeways during
construction. Bill Wade said
that blocking these entrance-
ways was not a fire hazard.
“These doors are not
officially fire exits anyway,”
he said. “Students should use
the stairwells, parlor doors
and other exits.”
Wade said that next week
he will join the Office of
Residence Life, the Dean of
Students Office and Facilities
Services to meet with the
architccts and begin
preliminary planning on the
breezeway reconstruction.
They will discuss whether
there will be any possible
cosmetic changes to the
breezeways or whether they
will be rebuilt the same way.
Sherry said that the current
design of the breezeways is
not up to current guidelines.
“The railings are too short
and do not meet current codes
for construction. The second
and third fioors of both
breezeways do not meet ADH
codes for handicap
accessibility." Sherry said
they should Be widened and
the steps should be removed.
“I was starting to suspect
the breezeways needed
renovation," said freshman
Jessica Jmes. “One of the
columns between Stringfield
and Vann is being held
together by duct tape.”
Brown said, ‘The columns
were rusting out. The tape
was meant to hide the rust.”
Sherry said the rust on the
columns is due in part, to the
salt that Facilities Services
spreads on walkways during
the winter to prevent ice
from forming. “But over
many years,” he said, “il has
caused the columns to rust.”
Research Conference deadline today
□ Students will
present research in
April.
LaDonna Logue
Slatf Writer
The College will hold the
second annual Undergraduate
Research Conference
celebrating students’ research
during the past year on April
17. The conference originated
from the Undergraduate
Research Opportunities Pro
gram (UROP), a campus-wide
program for students to pre
sent re.search and creativity in
all areas of study.
Last year’s conference,
known as the Meredith
Opportunities for Research
Experiences (MORE)
conference, featured research
projects from 60 students.
This year, prospects for
participanation are even
higher.
Director Dr. Rhonda
Zingraff is hoping for many
exhibits, new information,
and new developments in alt
areas, not only from the
expected science and mathe
matics programs but also
from areas such as dance and
theatre.
Carolyn Tucker, a student
who is involved with the
research program, is hoping
that her work in religion will
help her in graduate school.
“All the strong graduate
schools want you to be
published, presented or
known," said Tucker who
believes that working with
UROP will get schools to look
more seriously at her accom
plishments.
UROP encourages faculty
and students to interact,
students to develop problem
solving and critical thinking
skills and students to
participate in hands-on
research. All participants are
expected to put in between
five and 10 hours of research
per week-
The conference will act as
the culminating point of the
research. Students will give
oral presentations of individ
ual research and present
posters and performing/visu
al arts presentations.
To become involved with
this year’s conference, stu
dents should complete sub
mission forms located on bul
letin boards campus-wide.
Submit forms to the Under
graduate Research Program
Office in 100 Ledford by
March 8. A faculty sponsor’s
signature is required with each
• form. Students can also access
the rules and forms can
also be • found at
www.meredith.edu/urp.
N THE INSIDE:
ON SPRING BREAK:
ON REVIEW:
Fish and chips await you at
It’s not too late!
Hibernian Pub
Plan your trip to NYC online.
in downtown Raleigh