Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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AA discussion is being held about the new circulation desk that is still under construction. Photo By Carol Arm Patterson I n the Marketplace West Deli a student gets a sandwich made his way. Photo By Carol Ann Patterson I n October the grand opening for the Valley Library was held; eventhough, the renovations are not complete. Photo By Carol Anne Patterson I he state building fee is used for the new construction and renovation projects, such as the Valley Library, which is due to expand another 147,000 square feet by the end of the year, at a renovation cost of S47 million. The Library project, which is set for completion in December of 1998, actually began in 1990, but was killed by measure 5 in 1994. Even now, the Valley Library is facing budget problems and cutbacks that arc resulting in the loss of funds for new books. The Valley Library is not able to divert any of the $47 million allocated to construction of the Valley Library OjChiMS • 23

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in construction projects. Many of the endeavors, such as the expansion of the Valley Library and major renovations of residence halls have continued into the 1997-98 school year. None of these projects arc unusual, according to Lee Schroder, chief business officer at OSU. Annually, there | arc about Si87 million deferred maintenance and renovation needs on campus. No longer is the state bankrolling some of these needs. Private gifts, federal funding, donations from business and industry and other sources arc funding about three-fourths of the work, while overall expenditures arc being kept down by new methods of construction management. In 1996, OSU raised $28.5 million- much of which came from state subsidies, federal grants, and student tuition, but not all of it. AsOSU Vice President Saji Prelis holds the ribbon to be cut for the Marketplace West opening. Photo By Ann W » f During the West grand opening students, faculty, staff, and community members attended to check out all of the improvements. Photo By Ann Director of Tclcfunding, Todd Olncy says that last year, they were able to raise $620,000 over the phone from alumni, with a total of $1.5 million that included mail in donations. Student fees pay for many of the campus improvements. Estimated total dollars allotted for OSU student funded resources for the 1997-98 school year is $7.9 million. For each student it breaks down to $205.41 a term. Committees allocate funds from the student fee budget to many areas, including the state fee that receives 9 percent of the funds roughly $900,000. 1'he pounding of hammers, the whine of a saw, the smell of fresh paint, near misses with construction vehicles while biking around campus- doesn’t seem at all like the peaceful, quiet college campus most students enjoy attending. Reality at Oregon State is that construction. renovations, and upgrades to many of the school’s buildings arc as much a part of this campus as the students and faculty that keep the OSU campus alive day to day. Student J ife • zz

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The latest addition to the world of coffee was Java II, the new coffee shop in the bottom of the Valley Library. Photo By Card Anne Patterson Students readily filled the new Java II seating area with conversation and studying. Photo By Catol Anne Patterson addition to offset the cuts in the book budget. Half of the money for construction is from private donations, and half is bonded to the state, said Karylc Butcher, Library Director. It's gift money that was dedicated to construction...You cither spend it on construction or you don’t spend it at all.” While students arc working with their minds, the physical side of a students life demands improvement, too. The Dixon Recreation Center's “Phase II S . - Just as new students poured into Corvallis last September, the university was putting the finishing touches on the SI 3.2 million renovation and upgrade of West International House and its adjacent dining hall. West Dining Center. West International House, with the capacity of 230 students, boasts larger rooms with private or semi private bathrooms, rather than the typical dorm arrangement of 35 people sharing a communal bathroom. “Essentially, what we did was move from a double corridor, group bathroom system to a suite arrangement with more privacy and a study lounge on each wing of the floor. Iom Scheuermann, director of Oregon State’s Housing and Dining Services said. Features of the hall are mammm I renovations began in the summer of 1997, which included I the reconstruction of several rooms, adding televisions to I the cardio room, and general improvements. Building funds from the existing budget will be used to [pay for the $6.3 million in current renovations, but in doing so, leaves the Phase III of Dixon’s renovations on hold for eight to ten years. Yet, even before this years student elections, students .shot down the chance to vote on a student fee referendum Iwhich would have allowed the construction of the next phase to continue as soon as fall of 1999. Controversy among students, in regards to the extra $12 to $15 fee per term to fund the cost of Phase III renovations, were a stumbling block for Dixon supporters. Student Jsift -24