Campus expansion delay a letdown
For administrators at the University of Windsor, yet another delay in the expansion of the downtown campuses is but a small inconvenience in a long-term rejuvenation project for the university. But for myself and the students that I represent, it is the veritable piece de resistance to an unfortunate series of letdowns.
I began my undergraduate bachelor of music degree in 2014 with the expectation that the faculty of music would be moving into the former Armouries building downtown.
In fact, back in November 2011, an exasperated mayor, Eddie Francis, complained publicly in the Windsor Star that “the university was dragging its feet on downtown development.”
He went on to add: “I’ve expressed to the university that I’d like to see things move more quickly, go from talking to executing .... It’s been a year since we made the Armouries accessible.”
I understand that major infrastructure projects take time. The students at the School of Creative Arts are excited to begin work in a brand new facility. But the excitement from the initial projected opening date for the fall semester of 2014 has quickly turned into disillusionment.
The “promise” proclaimed by the university’s most recent advertising campaign and draped all over main campus appears to be just that — a slogan.
If the university had completed the project by the fall semester of 2014, I and my entire class could have completed our undergraduate degrees in the new facilities. (Students are now scheduled to move into the new building in January.)
Instead, as the entire faculty, staff and students of the school of creative arts spent the entire summer preparing to finally move into the downtown campus, we were shocked to find out two weeks before the semester is set to begin that the construction is still not complete.
I personally refuse to believe that there wasn’t one person who knew the construction wouldn’t be finished on time and the apparent lack of communication between university administration and the construction company is most likely to blame for the short notice given to staff and students.
A university is more than just an institution. It is ultimately the student body and faculty that constitute the core of any university.
Clearly, the administration has a plan for the future of their institution, but my experience has led me to question their commitment to the current student body. New buildings make for great promotional material. The promise of a brand new downtown facility is certain to attract more students in the future, which will benefit both the university and school of creative arts.
While the university administration will still be around to reap the benefits, an undergraduate degree is only four years long and every year the project gets pushed back, another class of students are denied the benefits of a new facility.
Students are fed up. It is time to hold the university accountable. No more broken promises.