Michigan State University - Red Cedar Log Yearbook (East Lansing, MI)

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20 BUILDING BOOM HITS CAMPUS .... AGAIN BY CHRISTY ALF In the midst of a “mini’’ building boom, MSU followed a trend that was reminis- cent of the 1960's. With three new structures and various remodeling pro- jects underway, the campus was exper- iencing growing pains. “Many people are asking for build- ings,’’ University Architect Robert Siefert said. As of June 30, 1979 there were 486 buildings on campus; 231 used for aca- demic purposes. The total value was $895,431,508. A breakdown showed $526,732,980 fell in the academic area, $359,689,480 went toward housing, and farm buildings comprised $9,009,048. The University marked its most rapid period of growth in history during the 1957-67 years. “Things took off like crazy during the immediate post-war years,” said Ed Zabrusky, manager of University News Service. On campus, the first major buildings in approximately 10 years were construct- ed. One new building was the Center for the Performing Arts. Construction be- gan in October, 1979 under the direc- tion of the Christman Company of Lan- sing. The $19.7 million project also re- quired the guidance of design archi- tects Caudill, Rowlett and Scott. Com- pletion was scheduled for June, 1981. The main features of the center was a 2,500-seat Great Hall and a separate 600-seat Theatre-Recital Hall. The six- story building would also house dressing rooms, a ticket office and the manag- er’s Office. The Recital Hall would primarily be used for drama productions, such as plays, and would also serve as a center for chamber music performances. The Great Hall, the largest theatre in the center, would feature “acoustical columns” designed to enhance the sound quality of symphonic, operatic and dramatic productions. Although it held 3,800 seats, the Audi- torium was no longer an ideal place for the performing arts. Major problems in- cluded bad acoustics, poor lighting, re- stricted visibility and extremely limited space. “It’s a disgrace for a school this size to have such poor facilities. Students from other schools are appalled when they see ‘the barn’,”’ music professor Virginia Bodman said. Beachler said “it will give u s a better selection of performers. Also, this bigger building can accomodate more theatre goers who will have a greater appreciation and enthusiasm for the arts,”’ “The new facility will showcase the top notch performing arts, such as the Juillard String Quartet,”’ said Jim Mclin- tyre, spokesman for the MSU Develop- ment Fund. Frank Rutledge, Theatre Department chairman said, ‘the new center, with the most sophisticated lighting in the Midwest, will attract students on the graduate level and also be exciting for the freshmen.”’ Part of the building program included the erection of a new Football Practice Building. Assistant football coach Sherman Lewis, said the new building “‘is impres- sive for young men to see. Recruiting is the name of the game because if you don’t get them in, you don’t win. Now we're in competition.” Total cost of campus buildings and re- modeling projects surpassed $46 million. In the future, a medical complex would be erected south of the Grand Trunk railroad tracks. Also, plans called for a hospital unit and the first part of a three- stage life sciences building. Availability was not a problem, since MSU’s campus, one continuous piece of land, was com- prised of 2,010 acres, 500 of which were buildable. The huge building boom that once hit campus returned to MSU this past year, but on a smaller scale. As Beachler ob- served, “it’s a great time to be at State because buildings are being built and money is being put into the university which will ultimately benefit students, faculty and the public.” Tom Culligan

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22 ATTRACTS NEW STUDENTS CHRIS KUEMMERLE Personalized diversity; perhaps that could best explain the appeal MSU's Ad- mission Department made in their job of attracting new students to the Universi- ty. The variety of work done by the Ad- mission Department included special Merit Day and Alumni Distinguished scholarship (ADS) programs, college night, and daily recruiting at high schools. Mailing follow-up was also an integral part of the admissions program. In the fall of 1979, the results of the department's work were more success- ful than was anticipated. With the re- cent decline in high school population, MSU was expecting a decline in enroll- ment for the 1979 80 academic year. Yet this fall, as Charles Curry, Associate Director of Admissions Scholarships, pointed out “freshman enrollment in- creased by 350 students.”’ Mr. Curry attributed this increased en- rollment in part to what he called “the Magic effect,’ a reference to MSU’s publicity as 1979 NCAA basketball champions. Charles Seely, director of admissions attributed the increase in en- rollment to the students. ‘The students are selling the university when they stop to help visitors on campus. We are a friendly campus, the attitude of stu- dents and faculty is friendly.’ The admissions department con- INTERACTION ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT veyed this friendly, personal attitude in their programs. One program offered by the department, the Alumni Distin- guished Scholarship program, celebrat- ed it 25th anniversary this year. This pro- gram was offerred to selected students on an invitation only basis. The top five to ten percent of students accepted by December of that year were invited to take part in a competition for a full ride scholarship to the university. This nation- al competition attracted students from all over the nation to MSU. Similarly, the Merit day program in No- vember made a personal appeal to Na- tional Merit Scholars from Michigan. One hundred and twenty five high school seniors spent a Sunday afternoon talk- ing to professors, administrators and stu- dents. Tom Strong, a senior at Adams High School in Rochester said, ‘the pro- gram left me with a positive attitude about MSU. | am thinking more seriously about attending MSU. It helps to be more informed and see how the Univer- sity presents itself.’’ Pam Walker, a Cass Tech student said, “Talking to people made the size of MSU less scary. The program left me with a positive feeling about the school.’’ Making a big school attractive is one problem the admissions department worked with. “One thing we have to contend with is size,”’ said » aes ie : 4 Ne oy 44 1 TF at . 1. J % ie =o Vw | e. re a m | . C4 ty Ve] : P| f : ij