Terrell needs work before move-in

Terrell Hall has been designated as a new location for an overflow of faculty and staff.

The departments of Modern Foreign Language, Mass Communication and Health Sciences faculty and staff will be housed in Terrell, a 98-year-old former residence hall, upon completion of renovations next fall.

“When Terrell went off-line as a dorm, it just seemed like the best opportunity to get the department back onto main campus,” Rushing said. “It made sense to move the department of Modern Foreign Language to the Smith House, but it wasn’t a good place for them to be. It is too far from where they teach and where the computer lab is.”

The decision to move these programs will also alleviate overcrowding in Arts and Sciences. Some departments currently have offices shared by up to three faculty members, said Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dr. Beth Rushing.

Rushing selected the Modern Foreign Language and Mass Communication faculties for the move after much deliberation about department size and mobility.

Rushing said she also wanted to avoid separating faculty within the same department or program.

The Modern Foreign Language Department, which has been located in the Smith House on West Green Street for the past three years, needs to be relocated to campus, Rushing said.

Professor and Modern Foreign Language Chair Roger Noel said the department is currently at a great disadvantage with limited parking availability and accessibility to students. The department’s current location also often makes it difficult for students to contact professors. Noel said professors are often between main campus and the Smith House when students are attempting to contact them.

“It’s a nice little house, but it’s not convenient for the faculty and students and that’s one of the primary concerns,” Noel said. “I think Rushing knew we were anxious to get back on campus. The Smith House is not very convenient for students, visitors, staff and faculty. We’re all eager to get back on main campus.”

The decision of which faculty will be moved to Terrell was finalized last week, and the move should be complete by the beginning of Fall Semester. The cost estimation for the move is approximately $31,000, which includes furniture, telephones and cable drops. Renovations prior to the move will include repainting and new carpeting throughout the building.

Although the building does not have central heat and air, all window units will be tested and replaced if necessary.

The first floor of Terrell will house the language department and a music therapy classroom. The second floor will house Mass Communication and Health Sciences. Nursing will be located on the third floor.

Student lounges will be created throughout the building, with one specifically for Mass Communication students.

Mass Communication Program Coordinator and Professor Dr. Mary Jean Land said she hopes the new location will provide a home for the program’s students.

“I think it’s exciting that we’re going to have a Mass Communication wing that will allow us to have a separate identity,” Land said. “I’m especially excited about the Mass Communication library with the student lounge.”

Terrell will become handicap accessible with the use of a new lift on the porch on the first floor. Rushing said the building will become further accessible to students with disabilities with the addition of an elevator in future renovations of the building.

“If there are handicapped students who need to see a faculty member, we’re going to have to work out a system where the faculty can be notified that there’s a student who needs to see them and then have a place where they can meet. That won’t be difficult. It will just be something we’ll need to figure out,” Rushing said.

Rushing met with Mass Communication and Modern Foreign Language faculty and staff in Terrell on Wednesday and toured Terrell. Offices were assigned and faculty concerns were addressed.

Questions were raised about the possibility of asbestos, a naturally occurring fiber that also can be found in some building products. If asbestos fibers are released into the air, continued exposure can generate health risks including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Although there is asbestos present in Terrell, Rushing said it won’t be a problem.

“The asbestos I know of is in the floor tiles and if those tiles aren’t removed, there won’t be a danger,” Rushing said.

Faculty members also asked if lead paint is present in the building. Rushing said she is unsure if lead paint has ever been used in Terrell, but reassured faculty that multiple layers of paint in the building should prevent any lead paint hazards.

“There are some things we can’t fix, but we’re going to do the best we can,” Rushing said. “I hope that in the end, faculty and students are going to feel that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of being in the older building. I want to make it a comfortable space for them.”

Terrell will most likely house these programs and departments until Beeson Hall is available for additional faculty. Rushing said she hopes renovations to Beeson will be complete within five years, but that it may not realistically be completed for up to 10 years.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 25 2005. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry