Don't let talk of replacement buildings be mere lip service

The university sent out an e-mail to students earlier this month to clarify what was printed in the Hartford Courant about Arjona and Monteith construction. The headline, "One of Two Outdated UConn Buildings to be Replaced," is true because construction only one new building will begin this year. However, as university officials pointed out in their e-mail, they still want to build a second new building after the first one is finished. Because of the current state of the economy and the governor's budget cuts, UConn has to reschedule construction projects.

Students appreciate the e-mail that clarified the Courant's story, and promised that the replacement of Arjona and Monteith are a high priority, but they don't want that e-mail to end up as nothing but lip service. These two buildings have been a sore subject for years. Ask any alumnus and they'll tell you stories of Arjona and Monteith construction from years ago. These buildings are over 50 years old, and their wear and tear show their age. From the cracked and missing floor and ceiling tiles to the lack of air conditioning and leaking roofs, Arjona and Monteith are not only an eyesore, they're outdated and in some ways unsafe. They both need to be replaced, and they've needed to be replaced for a while. This year alone, we've seen pipes burst and flood offices and classrooms.

The Courant article brought up a good point: Arjona and Monteith are the busiest buildings on campus, and they can't even compare to the chemistry or business buildings, which have state-of-the-art research labs and technology updates. Students are paying the same tuition for their undergraduate careers, but depending on their majors, they may end up in a business classroom with projectors and computer hook-ups, or they may end up in Arjona where professors wheel around shared televisions.

The entire state is having budgetary problems and UConn is no exception. However, the talk about Arjona and Monteith is just that, talk. If it's time to put pressure on the state for UConn construction, the university should do it. It's not enough to just have the plan to build - it needs to be done. These projects have been put on hold for too long, and it's not fair to the faculty who work in these buildings or the students who have to deal with classrooms in these buildings year after year.