In recent years, many construction projects have contributed to making the campus both look better and also to help improve its overall atmosphere. While we commend that these projects have been commissioned with the hope of raising the quality of life, perhaps more focus could be given to ensure that these projects are successfully completed, and that any repairs needed are finished as soon as possible.
A great example of this is the fountain on the Commons Quad that was dedicated to former Vice President for Institute Advancement David Haviland ’64 last year. The fountain was an addition that many enjoyed and thought that it improved the residence hall atmosphere.
Shortly after its completion, however, many noticed that the fountain was having problems. It turned out that there was a leak somewhere in the fountain system, but instead of doing full repairs in a timely fashion, the work seemed to be done in stages. At times, it even appeared to be nothing but a showpiece, running only when there would be many visitors to campus. Within days of their departure, it would be—once again—out of service.
In effect, the fountain would be disassembled for a while, and attempts made to try and fix the leak, and it then it would be put back together. Each time work was done, those living nearby could both see and hear the ongoing repair efforts. Currently, the fountain is disassembled and not functional yet again, though this is due to an act of vandalism that took place over the summer, rather than a leak.
The true importance of this, though, is not to show one example of a new addition that didn’t work quite as intended; rather, it is to emphasize the importance of maintaining our campus’s already existing facilities and infrastructure and making sure that they do not lag behind due to preparing the campus for many visitors or in lieu of new construction projects. In addition, maintenance is cheaper than repairs. Only when repairs and maintenance efforts are commensurate with new construction projects can the quality of life, at least as seen through capital improvements, truly improve as much as possible.
