Construction Projects Receive Go-Ahead for Summer Start
By Jeff Cherry
After years of careful
Plannlnq and frustrating delays,
the secondary phase of campus
development at N.C.S.S.M. is
beginning, with two prolects
slated to be completed over the
summer.
In a recent interview,
Braughn Taylor, Associate Dean
of Operations and Institutional
Advancement, explained that the
lengthly delays in the
construction of the athletic
field had been caused by
unforeseen technical
difficulties. In addition to
contractual problems, an
unexpected zoning variance
permit had to be obtained from
the city of Durham since the
school is located in a
residential area. In addition
to the multipurpose grassy
field, the proiect will also
include an irrigation system and
a biological pond to be created
by damming a low-lying area of
campus with fill excavated from
the field site. Stands of large
hardwood trees along Maryland
and Sprunt Avenues will be
preserved throughout development
of the area, which is scheduled
to be completed by fall of 1984!
However, to allow the sod to
root, the field will not be used
until the following spring. The
proiect, costing approximately
$230,000 is being funded
entirely by contributions to the
school's private foundation.
The second malor project
for this summer is the
replacement of the steam
boilers. These boilers were
installed when the school campus
was the Watts Hospital. ^Since
steam was needed year-round for
sterilization of instruments,
the boilers are much larger then
what is presently needed and are
operating at only ten percent
efficiency. Installation of two
smaller package boilers is set
to begin July 1, with Associate
Dean Taylor hoping for a quick
completion (and a late winter).
A federal Energy Department
Grant of $150,000 is paying for
the boiler replacement.
In addition to a new school
year, September will also bring
the loner awaited renovation of
the 1908 complex, consisting of
Watts Hall, the former Surgery,
and the Breezeway connecting the
two. Funds for this three
million dollar project have been
appropriated by the General
Assembly of North Carolina, with
private contributions providing
ten percent of the total amount.
Taylor emphasized that the
bulldina's exterior walls and
foundation were structurally
sound, and only interior walls
would have to he removed. New
heating, air-conalcioning,
plumbing, and electrical systems
will be installed, with the
expansion of the
air-conditioning system to be
extended to include Reynolds D
and E Pavilions. After
renovation is completed in about
two years, the Math Department
will move into the third floor
and half of the second floor.
The Development and Business
Offices will occupy the
remainder of the second floor,
and first floor will contain
various administrative offices.
The ground floor areas (behind
the Assembly Hall) will contain
classrooms and offices for the
Humanities Department. Though
the student laundry will be
removed, the lobby will be
meticulously restored to its
former splendor. The former
Surgery, located across the
Breezeway from Reynolds
Pavilion, will become the new
Art Department. After this
complex is renovated and
occupied, fourth floor
Bryan-North will become a
Physics facility, completing the
school's science wina.
The only other project
scheduled for next fall is the
conversion of the Durham County
Hospital laundry after it is
vacated in September or October.
No major changes will be made in
creating areas for athletic
facilities and the Maintenance
Department.
Though these are the only
projects for which money is now
actually on hand, Taylor expects
the General Assembly to
appropriate money this summer
for two other projects;
construction of a new male
dormitory and - a maintainance
building. At the regular
session of the General Assembly
in 1985, funds for the fourth
floor Physics facility and a new
gymnasium will be requested.
Barring unexpected
barriers, the sights and sounds
of construction will return to
campus next fall as N.C.S.S.M.
enters a period of exciting
expansion and change.
Changes Planned for Residential Life
By Kristen Milligan
Internal restructuring anj
long-range planning have been
occupying Dean Kathleen
Benzaquin and Residential Life
Manager Warren Basket's
itinerary as of late, and major
changes include redesigning the
residential life program for the
1984-85 academic year. These
changes, although being
instituted immediately, are
designed to expand with the
school during the future years
of student population growth.
The new structure will include
different Resident Advisor
positions: 5 Head Residents
(one per dorm), 5 full-time
Residents/Coordinators, 5
part-time Residents, and one
intern resident.
Head Residents' duties will
be of a supervisory nature in
each respective dorm, and they
will perrorm administrative
duties associated with the
residence hall. Next year's
Head Residents have been chosen
from applications from this
year's residence staff. The
full time resident advisors, as
well as head residents, will
also accept responsibilities as
program coordinators, such as
Parent Contact Coordinator,
Staff Development Coordinator,
Internship Program Coordinator,
Programming
Intramurals
Academic Liaison,
Coordinator, Student
Coordinators (one for
Coordinator,
Coordinator,
Publications
Activities
on-campus
i/iV f/jur,o j.+r;
events and one for off-campus),
and Work/Community Service
Coordinator.
A special program being
Initiated next year is the
resident advisor intern program.
Under this program, one graciuate
student, studying gifted
education, guidance and
counseling, or recreation will
serve as a Resident Advisor for
one year, providing adult
supervision in one of the dorms,
while gaining valuable hands-on
experience working with high
school students. Future plans
include the accomodation of 16
Interns to supplement the
residential life ' full-time
employees .• ‘ • ■
• I. f i \, ' I X *j