By Emma Campbell
Editor-in-Chief
ecampbell3@smwc.edu
The summer brought many changes to the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College campus — the most apparent of which is a new student center in the the former reference room in the library.
The student center was funded by gifts from two alumnae. The room now includes a performance stage, complete with lighting, café tables, rolling study tables and armchairs, glass partitions, a computer bar and flat-screen TVs with semi-private seating.
“It doesn’t make you feel like you’re in a library anymore,” said Senior Kristen Hammonds, a commuter from Marshall, Ill.
Freshmen and new students were the first to use the new student center during their open mic night of orientation.
Returning students noticed the installation of air conditioning in the south and center areas of Le Fer Hall, the installation of new wireless Internet, pavement of the curved drive behind Le Fer.
Air conditioning units were installed on the second, third and fourth floors of Le Fer. Larger units were also installed in the hallways, center areas, and kitchens.
In addition to adding comfort, in some cases the cooler air helps with health problems. Junior Katelyn Duke, who has Type-1 diabetes, said the hot and humid move-in last year caused her insulin pump to “fall out.” The cooler air this year made move-in healthier for her.
“It’s amazing,” she said, noting that she wasn’t drenched in sweat like last year.
New units were also installed on the first floor of Le Fer, including the main hallway, classrooms, and office spaces.
The completion of this project has been greatly anticipated by students, faculty, and staff alike, since the only centrally air conditioned part of Le Fer had been the north wings of the student housing areas. Classrooms and offices used noisy window units in the past.
The IT Department took advantage of the installation of the air conditioning units this summer to begin the first phase of installing the new wireless system in Le Fer. According to Austin Freeze, Technical Support Specialist, because of increasing use of wireless technology, such as smart phones, iPods, iPads, and laptops, the old wireless system was becoming obsolete.
Because most of the ceiling tiles had to be taken down for the new air units, this made it easier for IT to run wires and install the new access points.
The wireless system will provide enhanced coverage, faster internet speeds, increased reliability, and better support for new generations of technology, Freeze said.“This upgrade is not only replacing the existing wireless access points, but increasing the amount on campus by 45 percent,” he said.
So far, Le Fer and the first floor of the library are the only buildings with the new wireless systems installed. The rest of the campus is expected to be updated within the year.
Vice President for Finance and Administration, Gordon Afdahl said the new system was paid for with student technology fees.
Outside areas of campus got a facelift, as well. The curved drive behind Le Fer was newly paved after workers addressed the drainage problem between the drive and the back parking lot.
As a finishing touch, workers painted new parallel parking spaces along the drive to address parking availability.
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