Student Life Center 'rantworthy'
Now I don't want to get off on a rant here, but the design of the new student life building makes about as much sense as Chancellor Gee pawning his entire bow tie collection to finance another school's athletic program. When I think about the way $11.4 million has been poorly spent to create a "student life" center with virtually nothing in it for students, I can't help but wonder if maybe Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt is frantically searching for his receipt. You have to marvel at the ridiculousness of calling it a "student life" center if hardly any hours of a student's life will be spent in this building.
You know, I've no clue what is going on in Kirkland Hall behind closed doors; all I know is that you have Student Government Association representatives that claim to be fighting for students but are still churning out results as magnanimous as Jamie Frazier's introduction of a resolution (29 Sept. 2004) to have a student chaplain say a prayer before SGA meetings.
For over three years the plan for this building was being developed, going through the different committees and getting approved. That gave three SGA administrations the opportunity to look over and approve a plan for a center for student life. Some say this was an unstoppable money-maker for Vanderbilt that will completely pay for itself in the first year. If that's the case, why not spend the extra money on valuable study space, a large lounge for socializing and perhaps a bowling alley or arcade and then earn the name "student life center."
Now, if the administration puts down the money for this so-called student life building (which I do admit is pleasing to the eye), you have to ask yourself, haven't they ever been to another university? Did Chancellor Gee in his tenure at Brown University, Ohio State University, the University of Colorado and West Virginia University not see how other universities celebrate student life? I would send it back if I weren't so sure it would return with the only two meeting rooms (in the basement) converted into more underground parking.
And to all those that disagree with me: How can you defend a building that you know you won't use (that is unless you throw regular galas), study abroad every semester or look for jobs on a regular basis (for your four years at Vanderbilt) inside the career center's offices? And really, if this building represents the "large social space ... [that is the] No. 1 priority" of students, I want to know who is doing the polling. Because I certainly didn't agree that a Branscomb Nail Salon was anyone's top priority either. Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. (Thank you Dennis Miller.)