Three state senators toured Eastern’s campus to observe how construction projects are moving along, and what problems still need attention.

Sen. Judith Myers, R-Danville, invited Sen. Steven Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, Appropriations Committee chair, and Sen. Christine Radogno, R-La Grange, Commerce and Industry vice chair, to visit the campus and see the improvements being made.

Reminiscent of a freshman tour, the state senators were extremely inquisitive about Eastern’s projects and desired to know everything imaginable about the campus.

Eastern’s vice presidents and Interim President Lou Hencken answered the senators’ various questions during the tour, which included the Booth Library as well as the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The senators said they were impressed by the renovation of Booth Library, and also said it was a good use of state funding.

Since it is in the final phases, Steven Shrake, Physical Plant director, was on hand to detail to the senators what the final outlay will be once finished this January.

The senators were particularly impressed by the restoration of the original wing and the preservation of the original architecture. Myers said it was great to preserve the original building while adding the new area.

In addition, the senators were taken through the Doudna fine Arts Center and shown the plans for the future fine arts center, which will cost over $40 million and nearly double the size of the original facility to 138,696 square feet.

During the walk through, Shrake described the renovations that the building will undergo when construction begins in the fall of 2002, ending in the fall of 2005.

When Senator Rauschenberger asked why renovation seemed to be preferred over new construction, Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, and Hencken both said cost was the primary reason.

“If we can keep the outside walls of the building and just replace everything inside, it cuts our costs tremendously,” Hencken said.

The plans were well received by the senators as a worthwhile project and impressive design.

Hencken told the senators that almost all students have a class in the Doudna Fine Arts Center at one point or another during their Eastern career.

After also viewing the renovation of the food court, the group returned to the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union to meet with a select group of students and faculty.

“I think that the university is spending its money very wisely,” said Sen. Rodogno, adding that it was nice to see all of the projects were centered around benefiting students.

While discussing Eastern’s plans for the future with Hencken, Rodogno asked what Eastern’s response was to other state universities paring up for extensive research projects or changing the primary focus of certain programs.

Hencken said Eastern’s plan is to continue improving on what it has always done, educating undergraduate and graduate students.

Hencken said that should always be a university’s primary goal.

There are no plans to involve the university in anything that may deter from that mission, he said.

Senator Rondogno agreed with Hencken, and thought that was a great goal for the future of Eastern.