Toni Ortivez
The Paw Print
Adams State College is a place where many students come to get a quality education for a fraction of the cost of many other colleges. It is a small campus that has its quirks but is cozy nonetheless. However, these quirks are being drastically changed to try to compete with the larger colleges in surrounding areas, and it is hard for these changes to go unnoticed.
With the construction on campus, it is hard to find a route to travel that won’t have some sort of traffic backed up or a dangerous intersection to navigate. Yet, we do it because we are fond of our school and are proud to be educated here. Furthermore, we are relieved to have a college that provides us with the opportunities that many other colleges only dream about. With that being said, it’s becoming harder and harder to go a day without being affected by some aspect of the construction.
Driving down Stadium Drive is similar to driving down an unpaved road in rural areas of the state, but we deal with it because it is a vital part of visiting Plachy Hall, the resident halls, and, of course, the Student Union Building. If that wasn’t bad enough, with the recent email sent out to students, El Rio is now going to be affected by the construction. Although the email refers only to the parking on the south side of El Rio being closed off until the end of the semester, it still makes one wonder how it will affect the rest of the area.
Although it is refreshing to know that many people involved with the college care about the look and the quality of our school, it is also somewhat frustrating to know that these changes aren’t going to be remedied quickly or easily. There are many issues that arise with the decrease of parking around the campus, and the forecast for relief isn’t looking too bright.
Personally, having attended one of the information sessions about the project and hearing the disgruntled neighbors of the school voice their opinion, my faith in these changes is starting to dwindle. Toss in the idea that there is still a chance that the city could vote against these changes, and the elation of change is starting to become an eerie feeling of disappointment. However, high hope and a positive attitude may be necessary to bear with the project, but we then arrive back at the current conditions and how they are becoming more of a problem for students, commuters, and the general public.
However, those that are in charge of helping ease the pain of navigating around campus are not going to hear silent pleas. Whether it is just to get a better understanding of the plans for campus or to voice concerns about these changes, students must become active and voice their opinion and thoughts. To keep updated on the progress of construction around campus, visit the construction news link under ASC News on the homepage.
What’s Been Said…