"Campus Improvements" Mystify Students and Administration Alike

The goal of the obtrusive construction scaffolding at Yeshiva University's Furst Hall, along 185th Street at the University's Uptown Campus, remains unclear. The Department of Facilities Management, which oversees campus renovation and construction, offered no explanation about the current work. Upon a Commentator request for comment, Facilities Management referred all inquiries to the Department of Public Relations (YUPR). David Rosen, Director of YUPR stated, "I have no information about this matter," leaving students to wonder about the scaffolding and its purpose.

The Furst Hall construction project seems to have the potential to significantly alter the building's complexion. Students point to the erection of scaffolding along the entire front side of the building for more than two months as evidence that serious renovations are on the way.

Other students, however, turn away from the hype, giving the construction project little potential for significant contribution to the campus. They need point no farther than recent construction activity on the campus that has proved to be neither particularly well thought out nor expedient. Recent renovation endeavors includes the ongoing two-year effort to revamp the Belfer and Furst Hall elevator systems. This project has caused excessive wait time for floor transportation in both buildings, as well as extreme overcrowding of the elevator cars.

YUPR officials admit that they have "no idea" what the ultimate goal of the construction is. They claim that they are sure there is some purpose to the project. They believe that purpose to be aimed at improving either aesthetically or practically the Uptown Campus, but the specifics of the effort have not yet been divulged by Facilities Management, which is the only department that would be able to reveal such information.

Facilities Management representatives repeatedly offered "no comment," and reiterated the fact that announcements on such matters come only from Public Relations. YUPR spokesmen have emphasized to The Commentator that they would like to have the information regarding the Furst Hall construction. However, they have not been contacted by Facilities Management. They admit that, at this time, they have no more information than the student body.

Noise from the construction project has yet to prove a significant problem for the hundreds of students who attend classes in rooms that border the scaffolding. Nonetheless, students and administrators alike still wish to know the purpose of the scaffolding. "Every time I pass by Furst Hall," one student remarked, "I am reminded of the bureaucracy that permeates every aspect of this institution. It's been two months, and I still don't have the first clue as to what they are hoping to build. Can't they get their act together?"

The lack of information relevant to the construction project, as well as recent building collapses in the New York City area, have fueled student speculation that the Furst Hall building somehow poses a danger to students and that the scaffolding is part of a necessary repair effort.

Serving an immediate role, the scaffolding has provided shelter to students coming to and leaving form Furst Hall during recent winter storms. In fact, some believe that this temporary roofing during the December and January storms is the "only benefit that they will receive from the annoying project." Either way, no official announcement is expected in the near future, begging the question from the student body and uninformed administrative officials "why not?"

An additional recent undertaking of note has been the stringing of two thin strands of rope on metal stakes around the Danciger Quadrangle grass in front of Rubin Hall. The quad has recently been a point of contention between the administration and students, with the students wishing to utilize the grass for the enjoyment of the student body, playing football games and the like, while the administration continues to attempt to restrict the usage of the only open space on the Uptown Campus. Students were quick to decry the fencing of the grass as yet another shameless attempt by factions within the University to stifle student life on campus.

Unofficial sources within the administration told The Commentator that the reason given by Facilities Management for the new stakes on the grass, is to be able to guide the snow plows clearing the sidewalk and prevent damage to the lawn. The Commentator was further told that the stakes would remain for the duration of the snow season. Dror Barber, President of YCSC called such reasoning "patently ludicrous." "If the reason they are placing metal poles on our grass is to guide the plows, why are they on all four sides of the quad when the plows only operate on one side? And why does that necessitate stringing them with rope denying any access to the lawn whatsoever?" Barber and other student leaders are incensed, and predict that actions will be taken to remedy the situation.