Ten years and $35 million later Wabash College is almost finished renovating or building nine fraternity houses. With the soon to be completed Kappa Sigma house, the President in his Strategic Plan and from the gist of his master plan seemed to be formulating a plan to tackle the other housing crisis – Independent living units. While there was a commonly held belief the College would tackle this problem after finishing the fraternity houses, the fact the president was preparing to lay out a ‘new living unit proposal’ was something to cheer about. At the end of 2008, that plan was suckerpunched by the economy.
While it may be painful to think about new Independent living units being built in this economy, the Board of trustees and the administration cannot forego their responsibility. Non-fraternity students, who make up roughly 40% of the student body, as well as Independent alumni have waited for a decade.
It’s past time. In his blog, President White put dollar loss at $130 million. The 12 –quarter budgeting process allows us to not feel the effects of the loss for a couple of years and adjust annual budgets accordingly; however, the effects on construction projects like new living units, student center and athletic fields can be disastrous. Interest on the invested money will decline and new revenue (as well as new spending on projects) will have to be curtailed or perhaps eliminated.
The lack of endowment funding is only a fraction of the problem with constructing new living units. In an interview with the Bachelor, President White rightfully pointed out alums who donate to capital campaigns have been hit perhaps even harder than the College; willingness to donate to such ventures may be, at least for the immediate future, drastically reduced.
In spite of these large challenges, Trustees and the Administration should not shrink from a response to the Independent housing crisis under the stress of the economy. Dormitories are falling apart.
While there has been a great attempt at maintaining dormitories, structures built in the time of Warren G. Harding and not updated since Richard M. Nixon inevitably bear their age quite vividly. The number of Independent alums who walk into a dormitory and say something to the effect of “this hasn’t changed since I was here in 1969” is disturbing.
Older buildings also represent the greatest security risk on campus. Many residents consider the renovated Frat-turned-dorm College Hall a fortress; meanwhile one can easily walk through the front door of Martindale, Morris or Wolcott and credit card their way into a room. Without security apparatuses that work these buildings cannot be secure.
There is a silver lining to the economic downturn when it comes to building construction. President White said that one of our master plan consultants has highlighted the fact that the cost of building supplies has dropped dramatically and post-housing bubble construction companies have reasonably priced labor. If the College could secure a modest amount of funding perhaps they could borrow some and take advantage of lower costs.
In slow economic times, it is easy for an institution to hunker down and neglect some if its clear needs. Wabash cannot do that. Regardless of ones political persuasion, all are hopeful of a speedy recovery and a more fruitful fiscal climate for all.
Even so, neglecting the need for new Independent housing now is not an option. 40% of Wabash students have waited ten years for their College to get around to fixing their living situation.
Treatment as second-class citizens in second class quarters is unacceptable.