There were several highlights of today’s meeting (2-24). ASG approved funding for next year’s “The Year of Social Change.” Aims of this year’s theme are to raise Allegheny’s profile, put us on the map of progressive liberal arts colleges, bring big names to campus, and foster student-led programing and organization coalitions. Michael Pollan, author of the famous book, The Omnivore’s Dilema, will be pursued for a speaking engagement.
Student Life concerns included the potential demolition of the red barn by Carr Hall. Some students are proposing to save the building and to convert it to some student organization space. Brett Fuchs, Director of Student Affairs, explained that the barn was never meant as a permanent structure and holds no historical significance. It would cost a great deal to perserve and upgrade safety and security measures. There is currently no room in the college’s Strategic Plan for such maintenance. FYI- The barn was slated for demolition two years ago and was bumped down on the priorities list because of other campus construction. There will be a meeting this Thursday between ASG, Physical Plant, and other concerned students about this matter.
In other news, ACTV will now be broadcasting our weekly meetings. Look for ASG meetings to appear on the schedule in the coming weeks!
Also, discussions between GAP and ASG is still continuing this week. Details and finances about upcoming concert programming are still developing…check the blog again soon for more information.
Unfortunately, the issue of theft on this campus has become a problem. Right now, it is estimated that between $6,000-$8,000 of campus furniture and other property has been stolen. ASG is in talks to start a public relations/ awareness campaign about theft, finances, and trust in our community. ASG would like to encourage students to exercise responsibility and good judgement when using common space and items.
Lastly, ASG Class of 2011, is bringing representives from “Invisible Children” to campus March 24th for a presentation. March 25th, the senators will be holding a scavenger hunt to fundraise money for this cause. More details will be publicized soon. Congratulations to the Class of 2011 for their hard work and dedication to activism. Please support this very worthy cause.
***2009-2010 Cabinet position applications are now available. Contact <fuchs> for more information. Be a part of what we do!***
Ashlee Lang
Class of ‘09
2 Comments
March 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Brett Fuchs, I beg to differ.
Though it may be true that the red barns were “never meant as… permanent structure(s),” it’s not true at all to suggest they hold “no historical significance.” I think, actually, the truth is quite the opposite.
The costume shop was part of the original 16 housing units supplied to the college by Veterans Affairs directly after WWII to house married (veteran) students. I believe they were constructed in 1946 (though I don’t have the research in front of me right now, it may have been ‘45). These 16 units, extended up the hill behind Arter, and were known as Arter Terrace, covering the land that Quigley new rests on.
Soon after, the college started utilizing the units for other purposes, such as a day-care center for Education majors to staff, and an ROTC office. Over the years, the buildings were moved around campus, and slowly gotten rid of.
The Costume Shop is the last remaining of the original Arter Terrace apartments, and actually its location has never changed either. Where it is right now, is exactly where it’s been since 1946.
So, not only is it THE LAST remaining structure representative of our college’s involvement in WWII (quite historically significant, yes?), it’s also been the Costume Shop for nearly as long. Again, I don’t have the research right in front of me, but I’m pretty sure it was converted for the theater department’s use in 1947. The costume shop moved out of Arter’s basement and into the red-barn-former-veteran-housing-unit at this time… making it a part of Allegheny Theater Department history for more than sixty years.
The Set Shop- which is the red barn that runs parallel with N.Main & Park was constructed in 1948 (again, I may be a year off- but not more than that). This means that it’s been part of the theater department’s history for more than sixty years as well.
Just worth noting – The Costume & Set Shops are older than Quigley, Steffe, Carr, and Baldwin- just to consider the other buildings in the same little block of campus.
Also worth noting- when Quigley was constructed in the fifties, there was a promise of an Allegheny Veterans memorial somewhere in the space on the hill… this was never brought to fruition.
I don’t know, and this has been rambling and likely riddled with typos, etc. It doesn’t seem as if the Administration really wants to consider another option. Their response to this seems to be very inkeeping with the general direction they seem to be pushing the college to go in…sort of preferancing very clean, but rather cold environments… And this is just my personal sense of it, I’ve only been here two years, I don’t know…
The Vuk is spectacular and cost quite a bit of money (too much?). It’s really wonderful and has great resources for the whole campus to utilize.
But there’s only so much warmth one can feel in a space that is so much made of hard lines, tall ceilings, and glass.
I don’t mean to convince anyone, and I feel like atleast those with the real say-so already have their minds made up. But I’d like atleast for the reasoning given to be honest & true.
The red barns may never have meant to be permanent structures- but this did not stop the college from using them for over sixty years, from paying students work-study to work inside them (so if they haven’t been exactly stable structures, this raises troubling questions, I think).
And they certainly have a great deal of historical value.
March 21, 2009 at 1:29 am
Erin,
While the barns were built in the WWII era, and some monies may have been supplied by Veterans Affairs, they were only tangently built as “war” buildings. Let’s not forget that Alleghenains have served in every war since the Civil War. We have had many buildings in which military personnel have resided in or used for other purposes. You are correct – most of the series of red buildings that you speak of were used for military purposes. Students, who also served in the military, lived in these buildings, as did the ROTC program. However, not all of the buildings were used for this purpose. When you pull the actual records – which Physical Plant did and Jim Gutowski reminded me of – we find that the building in question was built in 1947 (after most WWII efforts). Additionally, it was built as a wood-working and seam-shop. This is not something you will find in the Allegheny History book (which I do own my own copy of…Yes, I’m a history nerd). If any of this information is untrue, we have all been mistaken. However, Allegheny Alum also verify our findings. During the summer – reunion weekend – I had the opportunity to meet two gentlemen who served in WWII. They, in fact, lived in the ROTC buildings in question. The remaining Red Barn building was not one that they recall…and when one of the alum saw the building he remarked, “that old piece of junk is still standing!”
Regardless, I hear and understand your concerns. This is why the Student Life Committee – when presented with the issue by the administration – vetted it before the student representatives. It was the feeling not only the students present at the committee meeting that day, but of the Senators that represent the student body as a whole. As was discussed in the meeting, everyone completely supports using this space. However, fixing the building in question is far-fetched. Renovations would be exurbanite and, especially in this economy, we don’t have the money to fix it. Building a new building or memorial can certainly be put into the strategic plan. That is what the committee ended the discussion on…entering some idea into the strategic plan. We all feel the need for a student space; it is just a matter of where to put it that will best serve the all around needs of our community.
Let me also make some technical notes:
-Demolition of this building was not an idea of ASG, but rather one of the Administration and Trustees. This is the first time the issue has come before the students. The only other time was when President Emeritus Cook noted that he would be the first person at the building with a sledge hammer.
-Please don’t be angry with me for facilitating the meeting. I did not preference one side or the other. I simply ensured that all sides were properly heard, and that the correct information was had. We also worked with the administration to make sure no demolition plans were carried out before this meeting could occur. My personal feelings did not reflect how the Senators felt or voted.
-There is a special college committee on historical preservation. They, the keepers of history on-campus. As for as I know they did not feel there was a need to preserve this building for historical purposes.
-I agree, there should be a war memorial somewhere on-campus. This has never come up as an issue since I have been here, but would be happy to bring it forth if you’d like to be the student sponsor.
I am sorry that you were upset about this. However, we have done what is in our jurisdiction to remedy the issue. I’d be happy to chat about this more with you or other students.
Thank you for your time and concern (and sorry, I probably rambled on in my stream-of-conscious writing too!).
Sincerely,
-Brett
Brett Fuchs
Director of Student Affairs
Allegheny Student Government