Andrew Wieting

Change, to transform or convert: a word that strikes fear in the hearts of some and excitement in others.

This university has gone through multiple transformations recently, ranging from the leap to Division I athletics to a new leader in President David Chicoine. Students’ Association Vice President Eric Hanson said that the university moves in cycles, hopefully replenishing every four to five years, allowing for some to witness change and others to reap its benefits without realizing that change ever occurred.

Many changes have been in the works throughout the school year, and many will continue throughout the summer. Although some students may think that the university and Brookings virtually halt to a standstill during the summer months, that is simply not true.

Many changes will take place behind the scenes: a reshuffling of management duties and hiring processes on campus, slight changes in food services molded to fit the needs of students and staff, new faculty faces and Students’ Association improvements. A new emergency notification system will also be in full swing, enabling the administration to contact students through their cell phones (text or voice), landline phones, e-mail, pagers and blackberries. Each of these improvements will help to keep SDSU running smoothly.

Along with these procedural and operational changes, there will be ones highly noticeable to students and the Brookings community. The Wellness Center, set to be unveiled next fall, is shaping up to be a high-profile alteration on campus. Hanson described the Wellness Center as a “wow factor” and “an important campus enhancement that will truly allow the students to enter a building and atmosphere they can enjoy and use.”

In addition to the Wellness Center, there will be continued campus improvement through construction and maintenance. Harding Hall South, a state-of-the-art engineering facility, is set to be completed by February 2009. Changes in the campus parking situation will continue taking shape, with switches such as the student commuter and faculty lots being combined. The Innovation Campus will also continue on the path of progress with a date of completion set for October 2008.

With all these positive changes taking place on campus also come some disheartening modifications. Student tuition and mandatory costs are set to increase, along with on-campus housing fees and meal plan costs. On-campus students will incur a 12.3 percent rise in aggregate cost, and off-campus students will bear an increase of 7.9 percent.

#1.882521:4012425130.jpg:changes_BR.jpg:Rotunda Lane will see some significant changes over the next year.:Blair Rau