Interim President Lou Hencken met with administrators and faculty from the art department to discuss the problems in the former Booth West building and the goals for the building completion, while construction at the building seems to be moving ahead at a faster rate.

Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs, said the meeting was a brainstorming session and an information sharing meeting between administrators and faculty, meant to get feedback and vent frustrations.

Denise Rehm-Mott, an art instructor, said at the meeting administrators explained that contractors were working hard to finish the building, and they would be able to see improvements like running water and doors by Monday.

Jeff Boshart, a professor of sculpture in the art department who was not at the meeting, said he can definitely see changes this week.

“In the past week there has been more movement in the building toward making a suitable academic environment then there has been in the last three weeks, that is my opinion. I, as a faculty member, appreciate the level of commitment I am seeing at the moment,” he said.

Boshart said he has seen people at work in the building all day installing doors, finishing electric wiring, painting and trimming the walls and installing shelves. A front desk has been placed at the entrance, and although it is not the new desk faculty were hoping for, he is happy to have something there.

Locks will be put on doors by the end of the weekend and the bathrooms are progressing.

“The bathrooms are quickly coming into shape. They are close to being complete,” he said.

When Rehm-Mott arrived at work Monday, water was working in some of the classrooms, but not hers, and workers were attaching doors to classrooms and offices.

Over the weekend workers also repaired equipment and items broken during the move.

By the end of the day Monday, all the doors were put on and offices had bulletin boards.

Rehm-Mott said the progress is positive and she is looking forward to starting her classes by next week. However, several more aspects of the building need to be completed before that can happen.

Administrators told Rehm-Mott and others at the meeting that the ventilation system was expected to be finished by Friday. Ventilation is key for classes dealing with fumes from equipment , paints or other materials.

Electricity was also not working in Rehm-Mott’s room, and she did not know when it would be turned on.

Both professors said they have been holding regular classes, but fear they will not be able to fully engage students in studio work until key work, like ventilation, is finished in the building.

Rehm-Mott said another concern voiced at the meeting on Friday was the hours of the building. Rehm-Mott said she will suggest a civil service worker be on sight to keep the building open until at least 1 a.m.

“I don’t know if being open until 11 p.m. is enough,” she said.

Hours posted on the door of the former Booth West state that the building will open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m to 5 p.m.

Booth West will be closed on Saturday and reopen Sunday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Rehm-Mott said if students have a full class schedule or work during the day they may not have enough time to finish projects. Many art students were used to having access to an art building late at night.

“There are not enough hours in the day,” she said.

Lord said the schedule posted now is tentative and administrators are keeping an open mind and will consider keeping the building open longer if problems arise.

Boshart said he has passed surveys out to his class to gauge what

hours students planned on working in the building.

“As things progress I hope students understand they drive the decision-making process,” Boshart said.

“I think down the road we are going to have an excellent facility here that we are going to enjoy using for the next three years,” Boshart said.

“I think we are getting the end in sight,” Blair said.

A flyer posted throughout the

former Booth West building Monday excerpted a quote from Lou Hencken that may have caused confusion for some students.

The flyer reads, “It’s no big deal for me to write a check out to them.” (In response to “Our students deserve a refund.”)

“Just tell us what you need,” Hencken is quoted as saying.

Lord said the quotes were taken from a meeting between administrators from the university and the art department administrators and faculty. However, he said no decisions about art student tuition refunds were made during the meeting.

What’s Not Done

Bathrooms

Running water on and off as construction goes on

Electricity does not work in all rooms

Unpacking of equipment and supplies

Ventilation

Locks for doors