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Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 1, 2008 8:28:10 GMT -5
The lanscaping is nearing completion from what I can tell. A lot of trees have been planted, all of the sidewalk lighting is up, and most of the sidewalks are complete. I was disappointed to find out that the water feature detailed in the campus master plan will not be included right now. Instead, a mess of sidewalks between the VUCA and the new Union are now present. I was told that we are ahead of schedule, with an opening possibly in December. We'll see, but they are really chugging along it seems.
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Post by 78crusader on Aug 1, 2008 14:10:14 GMT -5
O.T., there are many sidewalks now, but next summer there will be work in this area so it should look nicer. As for the water feature, that is still planned, but as a practical matter cannot be done this summer. Paul
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Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 1, 2008 15:59:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the update Paul.
I thought most of the landscaping was done, but I noticed today that the landscaping had just begun. I would take pictures but it just started raining. The union is looking much better now though. Except for the sidewalks, but like Paul said, they should fix it next summer.
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Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 1, 2008 16:42:44 GMT -5
Paul, can you elaborate on what you said about work being done in the area of the sidewalks next summer?
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Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 2, 2008 16:27:07 GMT -5
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Post by valpo89 on Aug 2, 2008 18:01:45 GMT -5
Yes it was a beautiful day, and I ran a race this morning that started at the Hilltop House and ran through campus. I stopped off to check out the football field before the race, and it looks great. I was told that yesterday, sod was installed around the outside of the turf - basically in the area where the track will eventually be built. It appeared the field was moved just a bit to the north. The visitor's bleachers were moved a long way north, so far that I think this year the visiting fans might feel like they're too far away. But the field looked great and the sod around the field looked a lot greener than anything else in town (we haven't had a good rain in 2-3 weeks).
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Post by vu72 on Aug 3, 2008 11:07:14 GMT -5
WOW!!! Those pictures are great and much appreciated! All I've seen is the webcam which is located on the top of the library. All the detail in the stone work is great to see!
I presume the remaining dirt will be sodded? True?
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Post by jj on Aug 3, 2008 11:22:20 GMT -5
Thanks! The view from the webcam was limited. Hopefully with our new buildings,campus beautification and upgraded athletic facilities we can attract more students. '09 is supposedly the peak year for graduating high school seniors. Hope we get our share. We now have the base so let's keep the faith.
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Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 3, 2008 17:06:23 GMT -5
I presume the remaining dirt will be sodded? True? One can hope, although I bet the university will choose the less expensive route and just spray that green seed which eventually turns into weeds.
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Post by 78crusader on Aug 4, 2008 17:15:09 GMT -5
Someone on this board mentioned VU now has a good foundation for attracting future students. That is true and, I think, is a vital consequence of the goal of the VU Board of Directors -- to build a "core" of impressive campus facilities. I would think there are very few schools our size that have a group of four buildings as impressive as the chapel, union, library, and performing arts center. I'm most familiar with Drake here in Des Moines, and Drake can't match us in this regard. The challenge now, I think, is four-fold. Here they are in no particular order: One is to build a new dorm or two. The second is to upgrade our academic buildings, (Christ College, engineering, the performing arts) and build a new one -- maybe a building that can house english, history, etc. The third is to upgrade our athletic facilities. I am constantly amazed by the number of students (and their parents) who tell me they put athletic facilities (and reputation) near the top of their list when choosing a school. The fourth one, and I'm not sure how to express this, is to more clearly define the campus perimeter, which would include bringing in baseball from Eastgate, and bringing in nursing from LaPorte. This is because, let's face it, the surrounding area isn't good and we need to be set apart from it, so that visitors feel they are leaving one area and entering a totally different environment when they set foot on campus. Just my thoughts. The progress this university has made since 2001 is very, very impressive. Paul PS I know VU is doing its best, and at the risk of stating the obvious, we really, really the new track. Somehow I get the feeling it's going to be a while before that becomes reality. I hope I'm wrong.
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Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 4, 2008 17:43:40 GMT -5
I would put more emphasis on athletic facilities before academic facilities, just because our academic facilities are not that bad in my opinion. They might not be the cleanest/most modern, but it's hard to really improve desks and projectors. I just really think we need a new track DESPERATELY, followed by expanded recreational fitness facilities, and then a new arena. But I think something that also needs to be addressed is campus beautifcation. Yes, it's made a lot of progress, but so much more needs to be done. I still can't understand why we have asphalt sidewalks that run right into concrete ones, and why the curb and parallel sidewalks are STILL left along the former Chapel Drive. It's not just old sidewalks, but the new sidewalks to the new union are the same type with a mix of asphalt and concrete. The explanation I received from Facilities Managment regarding those two topics was almost as baffling. Meanwhile, there are tons of dirt trails that students have created that cut through grass where there SHOULD be sidewalks. And let's not forget brown grass and overgrown weeds. I realize that this involves a lot of money and time, but I think it is something that should not be overlooked. I give campus tours all the time, and I feel somewhat embarrassed when I walk by some of these things. Appearance isn't everything, but for prospective students taking a tour it sure is something.
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Post by 78crusader on Aug 4, 2008 21:10:57 GMT -5
I agree with your points, Okinawa. The university, I don't think, has ever fully bought into the notion that because the area surrounding VU is, let's say, not full of charming buildings, we need to make sure the campus is absolutely wonderful-looking. I think the administration is catching on to this idea, but as you point out, there is a ways to go. On the other side of the ledger, we have to realize the tremendous pressure on the folks who run this university. Increasing costs at every turn will limit what VU can do. Overall I think the board of directors has done a very good job and has been a faithful and wise steward of VU's resources. Having said that, I concur that a track is an absolute must -- without it, let's be honest, Brown Field looks incomplete --and I would hope the board doesn't allow the athletics department to either sink or swim on its own in raising the money needed to build out the track. A couple million dollars is certainly a lot of money, but probably not too much for the athletics department to raise in the next six to nine months or so, with assistance, if needed, from the board and our new president. Paul
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Post by jj on Aug 5, 2008 11:05:17 GMT -5
The areas surrounding Valpo are a paradise compared to the surrounding areas of: Yale Columbia Penn Johns Hopkins and many other noteable institutions.
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Post by vu72 on Aug 5, 2008 11:16:19 GMT -5
how about The University of Chicago??
And as for this observation by Okinawatyphoon:
"One can hope, although I bet the university will choose the less expensive route and just spray that green seed..."
My sources tell me it will be sodded.
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Post by valpo04 on Aug 5, 2008 11:38:01 GMT -5
The areas surrounding Valpo are a paradise compared to the surrounding areas of: Yale Columbia Penn Johns Hopkins and many other noteable institutions. I work on the campus of Johns Hopkins and the surrounding area is not bad at all. The further you get from campus the worse it is of course, but to indicate that its in a bad area is false.
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