Thursday, October 18, 2001

Committee proposes changes to Moudy atrium
By Kristin Delorantis
Staff Reporter

The House of Student Representatives Permanent Improvements committee presented Vice Chancellor Don Mills Wednesday with plans to remodel the Moudy atrium, asking the university administration to provide $13,000.

Committee Chairperson Chelsea Hudson said the plans to renovate the area between Moudy Building North and Moudy Building South include removing all unnecessary shrubbery, leaving the three trees and foliage and adding stepping stones, five benches and rose bushes to create a sitting area for students.

The committee is motivated by safety concerns to renovate the atrium, Hudson said.

She said the tall, dense bushes in the atrium could be a danger to students if a predator wanted to hide there.

The proposed changes would cost $26,000. The committee plans to use its budget to fund half of the expenditure if the administration will provide the difference.

Mills said he supports the committee’s idea to collaborate with administration to make the idea a reality.

The mall area between Sadler Hall and the Student Center was a result of a similar conjunction, he said.

“(This project) is something the administration is very interested in supporting because it is something that needs to be taken care of,” Hudson said. “It is a safety issue, which is the foremost problem with it.”

Also, Hudson said promoting camaraderie among students is another incentive.“Any place where students can sit and join is great,” she said.

Mills said he will show the presentation to Chancellor Michael Ferrari and have a response for the committee on Monday.

The committee’s plans also include planting 20-foot live oak trees to replace two trees in front of Foster Hall and one tree in front of Moncrief Hall that were torn down.

The total cost for the replacement of the trees in front of Foster and Moncrief is $2,400. Residential Services has offered to pay $1,400 of the expenses. The Permanent Improvements committee must fund the remaining $1,000, which was included in the $13,000 funds request to administration.

Hudson said the committee’s goal is to break ground on the project this semester but weather might delay the process.

Hudson said she will present a bill at Tuesday’s meeting to initiate the project even if the administration denies the funding request.

Kristin Delorantis
k.a.delorantis@student.tcu.edu