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Supreme Being
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I was back in Macomb this past weekend for Heritage Days.
While in town, I took a walk around campus. The south end of campus is a mess due to continuing re-modeling of Memorial Hall (the old library). That project has drug on for years. It looks like they have built a new elevator tower on the south end of Memorial Hall.
Now to compound that mess, Corbin and Olson will soon be undergoing re-modleling. So that will mean more temporary chain link fences will be going up.
The front entrance to the University Union is now closed down and the sidewalk in front of it is closed off by fencing. I am not quite sure what is going on there. But I do know that an elevator is to be added up to the Heritage Room (the Union's original ballroom). So perhaps that is the reason. Anyway, it is another eyesore.
Hanson Field looked nice--especially the east side.
The west side looks very old now. You don't realize how bad it looks until you view Hanson Field from the new eastside grandstand. The pressbox has to be the joke of the Missouri Valley Conference. It looks terrible.
That little ticket booth to the south of the west grandstand is calling out for some paint. The track-athlete sculpture, that had been at the south end of the west grandstand, has been moved down to field level at the north end of Hanson Field (where the inflatable Rocky is on game days).
One of the biggest eyesores is the chain link fence that runs north of Hanson Field and separates it from the Rec Center and Q-Lot. It is is poor condition: rusty, dented-in, tilting, etc. It does not look one bit attractive.
I noticed that the softball stadium still has the big sign saying "Home of the Westerwinds" and the scoreboard uses the term "Winds".
Let's Go WESTERN!!
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Forum Guru
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Some great observations and a nice review of what is going on as far as WIU rehab. Isn't a pity that so much of what goes on in regards to these types of project on a state university campus are directly related to state funding and state funding problems. Memorial Hall was suppose to be done by the end of my daughter's junior year and she has already spent one year at home with us since she graduated last year. Finally though it is on it's way to completion and should erase the construction eye sore which it has been for a number of years. Talk about eye sore due to construction, the area between the Union and the Mullti-cultural center was all beat up for at least two years while construction progressed. It now looks pretty good. I saw the architectural drawing of the new Union entry way ala elevator and it looks slick. Once it is done, the refurbishing of the grand ball room can begin, which will make that area a mess for at least a year or more. The area around the rec center was also beat up and and has almost returned to normal since its completion, but you are right, the fencing which took a beating during the east side stadium renovation needs to be replaced either with the same type or a more elegant look like at the north and south entrances to Hanson. Olson is closed, but Corbin is to remain open. Both of those dorms need a good once over. And wait 712 until next spring when construction on the PAC begins!!!! Speculation is that will release the next set of projects just before elections in the fall which means that the entire area between Brown and Corbin will be a mess for at least 3 years. But in the long run, construction dust is good. I met a young lady on vacation that was a cheerleader for U. Buffalo and she said that the campus was voted one of the most ugly campuses in the state due to the fact that construction is a constant and there are cranes all over. But construction means progress and new growth.
You are totally on with the comparison of the east and west sides of the stadium. Stand in the middle of the field and look east and its "yea, lookin good!" Turn around, and it looks like "woa, they gotta go!" I just hope I live long enough to see it all done!
Lake Ruth and the Sherman Hall area still looks good along with new Grote. Things do though need a good going over. Like the road through campus is in desperate need of resurfacing, some of the curbs, just little things that make things look better. The trouble is, the state continues to shaft state universities and these things get put off. Makes me sick!
jc
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