Construction a necessary evil

At the Web site www.quizie.com, there is an online quiz
entitled, “How UCLA Are You?” The fifth question asks,
“Have you ever NOT seen construction on campus?” The
answer to that question is obvious to most current students.

Construction is seen most prominently on the residential hill.
With four consecutive projects underway at the moment, it seems the
dust and hammering and drilling are ceaseless. Beginning at 6 a.m.
and ending at 4 p.m., the noise of construction makes sleeping in
on days without an 8 a.m. class all but impossible.

While such raucous work is unarguably annoying at best and
sleep-depriving at worst, it is not only necessary, but telling of
UCLA’s confidence in the midst of the California budget
crisis as well.

A campus-tour representative at Boston College pointed out
various construction projects on the BC campus this summer, making
the point that seeing construction on a college campus is a good
sign the school has enough money to fund such undertakings.

If that’s true, UCLA must be secretly rich.

Sproul Hall residents are experiencing noise, a cold,
claustrophobic first floor and a “front desk” in an
entirely different building while the hall is being renovated. The
projects being built include “a new dining boutique
restaurant that will serve deli sandwiches, coffee drinks and
smoothies. Other first floor areas are being renovated to
incorporate a new front entrance, front desk, student program space
and offices.” According to a statement compiled by Michael
Foraker, director of Housing and Suzanne Seplow, ORL director,
“Meal plans and easy pay BruinCard will be welcome at [the
new Bruin Café].”

After countless runs to Puzzles for greasy pizza and Hilltop for
an aisle full of candy and not much else, this new café is an
entirely necessary new addition to the residential campus.

Presently, the Housing Office has relocated to the completed
section of the lower level of Sproul, moving out of its previous
location on the building pad of Rieber North, a new residence hall.
This new location is much more aesthetically pleasing than the
one-room, gray building Housing used last quarter. Separate windows
for different housing concerns, a waiting room and offices outfit
Housing’s new home with facilities needed to appease the
student body’s accommodation concerns.

Perhaps the most raucous project also happens to be the most
advantageous: the construction of new residence halls Hedrick
North, Rieber North and Rieber West. Foraker and Seplow claim these
residence halls will provide room for 1,987 beds. This will remove
the necessity for the rising number of triple-occupancy rooms.

Likewise, the construction of the Dykstra Hall parking structure
is a much needed venture on the UCLA campus. Only the lucky or
commuters are allowed cars on campus due to lack of space. The
construction of this structure will allow more students to bring
their cars to campus.

Construction on the Hill is annoying, but students will see
benefits. Many of these projects are also taking place
simultaneously, and a lot of them are very loud. Hopefully, the
construction will proceed as quickly and quietly as possible. That
much is owed to the current students ““ most of whom will
never see the direct benefits of the construction.

Despite the debris and noise of various projects occurring
simultaneously, one must look to the future and see the outcome
rather than the present, half-finished project. In terms of
residential campus’ construction developments, the ends do
justify the means.

Jensen is a first-year English student. E-mail her at
[email protected]. Send general comments to
[email protected].