By Zach Waltz
Sports Assignment Editor
For the first time next year, incoming freshmen will not experience the old, run-down Robinson and Falconio Halls that students before them have come to love.
For a school trying to increase enrollment, upgrading the main freshmen residence halls is an excellent start to recruiting new students. The renovations of Robinson and Falconio Halls will be crucial for the university in turning around their declining enrollment numbers.
On paper, it looks like this campus touch up will greatly improve life for all students and make our campus look a lot nicer. The university is adamant it will finish all of the new renovations by the beginning of the fall semester next year, which means the Robinson and Falconio upgrade may be an integral part of recruiting a larger freshmen class next year.
The school will be removing rooms from Robinson and Falconio in order to make room for elevators, new lounges and new study rooms on each floor. They will also be renovating the lobbies of both buildings and removing the blue tiles from below the exterior windows.
Sophomore Taylor Godshalk said the Robinson and Falconio upgrades will be a welcome addition to the beloved residence halls.
“While I loved living in Rob last year, the facilities were very out of date,” Godshalk said. “I think these new renovations will make Rob and Fal the best places to live on campus next year. I’m definitely jealous of the incoming freshmen class.”
While $7.25 million is going towards the Robinson and Falconio renovations and $250,000 going to Devereux renovations, I think the $2.5 million going toward maintenance projects around campus is the most important part of the $10 million project. The university is spending so much money on buildings that are primarily used by freshmen when there are other things that could also use. Ideally, they should spend more money restoring the rest of campus and take money from the Robinson and Falconio budget.
The school plans to use that $2.5 million to repair several things on campus including mechanical upgrades, roof repairs and concrete repairs to steps and sidewalks around campus. Furthermore, they will refurbish the library entrance and reading room, repair the ramp outside of the University Chapel and paint the exterior window frames of Plassmann Hall. While these upgrades and repairs will be a step in the right directions toward making our campus more beautiful, the school could be spending more money on these types of things that all students can enjoy.
For example, Plassmann is extremely outdated and could use some type of air conditioning system for when it gets hot out. Additionally, Murphy is also very old and could use upgrades to its heating system.
I think the renovations to Robinson and Falconio are going to be awesome, but I also think that $7.25 million is a lot of money to be putting into a residence hall that only freshmen will be able to utilize. I would be more excited if the $10 million was split up evenly around campus for all students to enjoy.
I understand that increasing enrollment is a large priority for the university. However, there is more than $2.5 million worth of repairs that need done around campus.
Zach Waltz is the sports assignment editor for The Bona Venture. His email is waltzzd12@bonaventure.edu
