News Briefs

Final RDI Meeting in Wilder Saturday

The third and final student-organized Residential Design Initiative (RDI) meeting will occur Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Wilder 112. Ultimately, RDI hopes to present to administrators a student-friendly alternative to dorm living. "People want to emphasize community, natural light and fresh air all the time," RDI member and junior Casey Pickett said.

Pickett said the second RDI meeting proved useful in that the RDI was able to create a list of 15 necessary criteria for a new dormitory. Select criteria include the opportunity for frequent social interaction, environmental responsibility and a location that makes for easy access to campus. "We also want it to be aesthetically inspiring," Pickett added.

Saturday's meeting will feature the participation of three professional ecological designers, including the architect of the Adam J. Lewis Center for Environmental Studies. Assistant to the President for Community Affairs Daniel Gardner and Associate Director of Residential Life and Services will round out the panel that the RDI will present its five general options to. This panel of five will serve to present their criticisms of the RDI options and to present alternative criteria the RDI may have overlooked. "We'd like for the panel to critique and use their expertise to make better proposals," Pickett said.

The RDI hopes this year's final meeting will help to clarify the most feasible and attractive option for a new student dormitory. They plan to complete a finalized proposal to present to the administration by May 12. Pickett confirmed that the existence of the RDI will continue into next semester.

-Nick Stillman

Science Center Construction Speeding Along

Phase One of construction on the new Oberlin Science Center is about to reach its halfway point. Groundbreaking for the $56 million building took place in November, and much progress has been made since then.

"There's always something new and exciting happening with progress on the Science Center," said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Clayton Koppes.

According to members of Science Center planning committees, everything is right on schedule. "The completion date that was set originally is still the projected completion date, and we're making a lot of progress," said Vice President of Finance Andy Evans.

The most visible progress with the Center has been the move from underground to above. Large cranes have begun to grace the North Quad skyline, a telltale sign of progress in pouring concrete for various sections of the building. In the past several weeks, slabs for the first and second floors of the West Wing of the Center were formed and floor slabs were poured on schedule. In addition, construction of footings, foundations and columns in the North Wing area were begun.

Progress has also been made in interior details. Furniture and equipment packages have been finalized in the past several weeks, as well as planning ahead for the big move of the science faculty into their new building.

Construction for the new building is right on schedule. The Center will be open for the Fall semester 2002.

For weekly updated information on the Science Center, go to www.oberlin.edu/science/.

-Lauren Viera