By fall of 2009, University officials are hoping The University Center will be a cultural nexus where students are free to meet, eat, study and sleep. But right now, it resembles a cold metal skeleton of a building with hollow concrete towers protruding from the giant pile of rubble surrounding it.
Freshman and sophomores may have never visited the old University Center, which was located on the current construction site and was home to various dining establishments, dozens of couches and the infamous "glory hole" incident in fall of 2006.
"The old UC had fallen into a state of disrepair," said Bob Barnett, director of the new University Center. "The new one will be a facility that people can be proud of on campus."
In December 2007, The Daily Helmsman reported that the budget for the project had increased from $45.9 million to $50.9 million and several parts of the project had been cut, including an outdoor amphitheater. Barnett said the project has since remained within budget and no additional features have been cut.
The 172,000-square-foot University Center will provide students with a food court, ballroom, several meeting areas and a full-service restaurant. The new UC will also provide offices for many student organizations such as the Student Government Association and the Student Activities Council, whose offices were moved to Wilder Tower as a result of the destruction of the old UC.
According to Barnett, University administrators have been meeting every two weeks since construction began to review drawings, decide on which businesses will operate out of the new UC, and iron out the "detail work."
"Next year, students will come back in the fall and see a major change," Barnett said. "It will be very exciting."
The new UC has garnered student interest last semester, when The University officials allowed the art department to decorate the walls surrounding the construction area with graffiti in an attempt to brighten up campus. After a few weeks, the novelty wore off, and The University eventually covered the work with a coat of gray paint.
A number of current students are looking forward to the completion of the new UC.
"I'm expecting to see something really nice," said Ashley Perry, freshman biology major. "I transferred here from UT-Martin, and they had a much smaller University Center. I'm just waiting for it to be finished."
Other students expressed interest in the idea, but said some of the new features seem a bit excessive.
"I think they could use their money on something better than a full-service restaurant," said Jessica Harvey, senior nursing major.
"I didn't see anything wrong with the old one," said Matt Germany, sophomore journalism major. "It seemed to be fine for what it was for - you know - just a place for students to meet and get together."
The new UC is being funded by a $96 per semester debt service fee, which will be paid by students over the course of the next 30 years.
