If you have been even mildly conscious since last year, you may have perhaps noticed all the construction that is taking place around campus. There is really no way to miss it, as there seems to be a major development on every side of our school. All of these new expansions are part of President Reevley’s Master Plan (MUAHAHAHAHA *pets cat*) to build up Longwood, so our walk will match our talk, so-to-speak.
Personally, I think this is fantastic! I love the fact that our little, oft overlooked, university is growing right before our eyes, and I believe it puts us in a fantastic position to create a new future for ourselves. Change is a necessary part of life and is something that should not be feared as much as it is. However, I do have a concern with all of the updates going on around our campus.
You may recall the Great Bedford Flood of 2015, the infamous tragedy that took down a major artery of our school just before winter break (or if you aren’t an art student, the one thing that happened in the art building that cut off the power -- but anyway.) It recently reoccurred when the Cox Dormwas also flooded, causing students to evacuate and find other accommodations for the night. Both of these events were caused by water main breaks. Some of you intrepid readers, or … reader (hi mom!) may have wondered, “Why are Longwood’s newest, most state of the art buildings the ones having these issues?” Well, simply put, the answer is, perhaps, a matter of quantity over quality.
Longwood has contracted out these renovations and building projects to the lowest bidder, resulting in buildings that crop up quickly and cheaply but with little regard to quality. Corners have to be cut somewhere, and they no doubt are being so in these two new dorms that have sprung up in front of Arc and this trend will probably continue into the other new buildings that are part of the 2020 plan. Just like when you buy cheap clothes from China, you get what you pay for, so welcome to the $20, ill fitting prom dress of dorm buildings.
Another problem with the pace of this construction is space, or lack thereof. Let’s face it, people, Longwood is not a big school and Farmville is not a big town. Where the Hell are we going to put everything?! At this rate we will either have to buy out the town or just start building underground like mole people.
Now, my undaunted readers, don’t get me wrong. I want to see Longwood grow and evolve as much as anyone, but if we continue to build at this pace with this strategy, it’s going to come back to bite us when we have to pay more to renovate these cheaply made buildings. I would much rather have quality over quantity, and not have future students and staff displaced due to more flooding or other incidents.
