Feet away from the back doors on the west side of Muntz Hall stand six new classrooms in three new temporary buildings, better known as the Pavilions. Due to the increase of faculty members and enrollment, there is a shortage of learning space in Muntz Hall and The Science and Allied Health Building. The Building and Grounds Committee, along with RWC administration, decided to resort to the temporary building structures as a short-term fix for the problem.
Many students, on the other hand, are wondering why temporary buildings. Why not construct a new permanent classroom building all together?
Building and Grounds committee chairman, Dr. Frank Wray, responded. “The state awards funding every two years. Unfortunately Raymond Walters College was not granted the money.”
Even though an assessment by the state shows Raymond Walters College is in the greatest need of space of all the branch campuses in Ohio, Dr. Wray states, “It’s almost as if we have to hit rock bottom. We have to prove to the state that we’re so un-comfortable we need more space.”
Even though the college has tried to re-arrange class times and be more creative with the scheduling, there just isn’t enough space for the number of people here. Some students, such as Dana Weinstein, never got the memo that the college was holding an open forum for the shortage, never mind that there are even extra classrooms outside. “There are trailers out there?” she asked. “Where? How ghetto is that.”
Other students have complained that there are no bathroom facilities around the Pavilion area. Agreeing with that argument is sophomore Aaron Thesing. “Students have to walk back to Muntz Hall, in rain or shine, just to use the restroom,” he said. “I don’t like that at all.”
Ali Nicholas views the pavilion buildings in a different light. She said, “Every time I’m on my way to class, I find my self humming the Sammy Kershaw lyric ‘I made her the queen of my double wide trailer with the polyester curtains and the red wood deck.’ At first I just laughed but now it doesn’t really bother me. The trailers have heat, air-conditioning, electricity, computer hook ups, and everything a classroom in the other two buildings would have.”
Although there is talk and planning of a new building in the future, a date cannot even be mentioned due to the shortage in state funds. Dr. Wray points out, “Hopefully we’re still calling them temporary buildings.