2008 Woodie Awards
Renovation underway in Student Union
Ian Paterson
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
It is more than evident that Southwest Baptist University's Goodson Student Union is undergoing renovations.
Construction teams began the early stages of renovations in the bathrooms across from Mellers Dining Commons Wednesday, April 18.
"There will be more stalls," said Rob Harris, dean of students. "They will be ADA compliant for those students who are disabled or in wheelchairs … overall it will be nice to have a larger bathroom right there by the bookstore, by the game room, by the cafeteria. So, we're in the process of making those renovations."
In addition to the renovations in the bathroom, Goodson Student Union is also expecting some revamping.
"Perhaps a large screen television," said Harris. "Things like that we can have. We just have to find out if the funds are available.
"We initially added new carpet and new furniture, as everyone can see. Our next priority was the bathrooms. Now we're going to look and see if we can add entertainment features. That's not a guarantee, though."
The concern of making SBU a more handicap-accessible campus was an issue discussed in the Cherry Coke Break in the Union Wednesday, May 2.
"We have to work at beginning to etch out on one side while the students are still here," said Ron Maupin, vice president for administration. "Then etch the other side in before we get a large concentration of campers. We have a period of about two weeks when no one is here, and we thought we would do the bulk of the construction then."
After answering student questions about what the initial renovation would entail, the administration was asked why the University is only now deciding to become ADA compliant instead of years earlier.
"[A big] reason is because of manpower," said Dr. Gordon Dutile, provost.
The renovations are not just limited to the bathrooms, however. As construction wraps up at Jim Mellers Center, its neighbor, Woody-Gott Hall is preparing to undergo its own set of modifications.
"There are going to be a lot of renovations done to Woody-Gott as far as new ceiling tiles, new paint, a little bit of new furniture, new beds [and] more security," said Harris. "We're toying right now with the locking mechanisms on the first floor [and having a system] like the doors in hotels. It's kind of an experiment, but we're willing to go with it and see how students like it."
Construction teams began the early stages of renovations in the bathrooms across from Mellers Dining Commons Wednesday, April 18.
"There will be more stalls," said Rob Harris, dean of students. "They will be ADA compliant for those students who are disabled or in wheelchairs … overall it will be nice to have a larger bathroom right there by the bookstore, by the game room, by the cafeteria. So, we're in the process of making those renovations."
In addition to the renovations in the bathroom, Goodson Student Union is also expecting some revamping.
"Perhaps a large screen television," said Harris. "Things like that we can have. We just have to find out if the funds are available.
"We initially added new carpet and new furniture, as everyone can see. Our next priority was the bathrooms. Now we're going to look and see if we can add entertainment features. That's not a guarantee, though."
The concern of making SBU a more handicap-accessible campus was an issue discussed in the Cherry Coke Break in the Union Wednesday, May 2.
"We have to work at beginning to etch out on one side while the students are still here," said Ron Maupin, vice president for administration. "Then etch the other side in before we get a large concentration of campers. We have a period of about two weeks when no one is here, and we thought we would do the bulk of the construction then."
After answering student questions about what the initial renovation would entail, the administration was asked why the University is only now deciding to become ADA compliant instead of years earlier.
"[A big] reason is because of manpower," said Dr. Gordon Dutile, provost.
The renovations are not just limited to the bathrooms, however. As construction wraps up at Jim Mellers Center, its neighbor, Woody-Gott Hall is preparing to undergo its own set of modifications.
"There are going to be a lot of renovations done to Woody-Gott as far as new ceiling tiles, new paint, a little bit of new furniture, new beds [and] more security," said Harris. "We're toying right now with the locking mechanisms on the first floor [and having a system] like the doors in hotels. It's kind of an experiment, but we're willing to go with it and see how students like it."
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