OUR VIEW: The decision to renovate and update buildings on campus at the Board of Regents meeting was long overdue, and will not only benefit students and faculty, but will promote pride in our campus.

For the last several years, we have had an enrollments and retention problem with students, so having buildings that haven’t been updated since the 1960s doesn’t exactly boost morale within our campus. After years of stagnancy, the fresh look many of our buildings are getting make students have pride for their school. Students that are in or are going to be in the brand new mass communication and health sciences buildings have made their excitement clear. They’ve taken ownership to their department which increases school pride. New buildings and equipment generate a sense of discovery and wonder in students that is necessary to appeal to prospective students.

For thousands of students, this campus is their home, and if they feel disconnected or ashamed of the facilities on campus, then that comes across in how they talk about their time at college. The most effective form of advertising is word of mouth, and students that talk to prospective students establish community within the campus which will attract students. Along with the connection students can feel, since most of their time is spent on campus, nice, new and efficient buildings translate to how much the administration cares about students and again makes students feel ownership of their university.

Our tuition and student fees pay for several services on campus that students aren’t aware of, so the more investment the Board of Regents put into campus, the more attention will be shown on those activities. Money shouldn’t be wasted on services and additions students don’t benefit from, and the money spent to fix Bolin and Moffett give a tangible thing for students to see the progress on.

These additions, renovations and updates are desperately needed for students to take pride in our campus and the education offered.