Jacuzzi rumors unfounded

Despite months of suspect rumors, the third floor of Parks Hall will soon reopen sans jacuzzi, but with some much needed renovations.

Dr. Dorothy Leland, GC&SU President, said that despite the unfounded accusations, her office will only contain a stand-up shower. “A small bathroom is attached to the president’s office, and this bathroom includes a shower,” Leland said. “The schedule of a president often begins early in the morning and ends late at night, with a variety of events in between and no time to return home between commitments. The bathroom provides the president with a private space to store a change of clothing, to shower and get ready for evening events. The offices of most of our deans also contain private bathrooms for the same reasons.” Mitch Clarke, director of university communications, said that the building would not have even supported a jacuzzi. “With that much weight, it would have ended up falling through to the first floor,” Clarke said.

Project Manager Mark Bowen said that the other renovations where long over due. That section of Parks Hall had not been remodeled in at least the last 10 years. In all, the construction has cost approximately $756,000.

“Most of the expenses came from the removal of the asbestos and the plumbing,” Clarke said. “We had to run that from the ground to the third floor.”

Leland said that there are several advantages to the move for not only herself, but also other members of the campus community.

“My own office on the third floor will be smaller than my current office, but the new space on the third floor provides more room for visitors, more file room space and most importantly, space for student interns,” Leland said. “I look forward to having more students involved in the work of the Office of the President as a result of this move. I am also thankful that we will be able to provide an appropriate seating.”

Also newly installed is a food prep area for presidential luncheons.

Along with the overhaul of the president’s office, the entire left side of the third floor received a new ceiling and floor. “The move is consistent with the university’s master plan,” Clarke said. “We are trying to get all non- academic resources to the peripheral parts of campus.”

Still, Parks Hall will not be the final destination of the Office of the President.

“Eventually, the master plan is for the administration to move to the courthouse, but that is years away,” Clarke said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 20 2006. 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