Construction Update

[Digetydog]

It won't be over on main campus until 2017 at the earliest. The next major phase will be the relocation of the frat houses opposite the Bush Library.

The ones across from the intermural field? To where??

We have been told that the school doesn't want our house (or the others) fronting SMU Blvd. At some point, we will move to the same street as the Pike/SAE houses.

[PonyTime]

I can't believe that they are in dire need of money (see Bain Project), but they want to move all of the Frat Houses...BS.

Someone posted these cool pics from the early to mid-80s on SMU facebook. For those that were there...was SMU really that bad of a place when there were frat houses close to Central, SMU students drove Volkswagon Bugs, there was only one fountain, and there was a Water Tower behind Dallas hall?

[Bergermeister]

One fountain? How embarrassing. We're still not caught up.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Someone posted these cool pics from the early to mid-80s on SMU facebook. For those that were there...was SMU really that bad of a place when there were frat houses close to Central, SMU students drove Volkswagon Bugs, there was only one fountain, and there was a Water Tower behind Dallas hall?

The good old days!

I was next to an 80s BMW at a stop sign the other day and remembered when it seemed every other car on campus was one of those...

[gostangs]

Yeah, I think our campus is way nicer than it was then, but I don't get the need to move fraternity houses. They are pretty well kept and not the typical fraternity row you see at some other schools

I think we have way bigger needs for that money.

By the way Sigma chi is going over next to sae - breaks ground this fall supposedly to make room for new alumni center.

[PonySnob]

Yeah, I think our campus is way nicer than it was then, but I don't get the need to move fraternity houses. They are pretty well kept and not the typical fraternity row you see at some other schools

I think we have way bigger needs for that money.

By the way Sigma chi is going over next to sae - breaks ground this fall supposedly to make room for new alumni center.

Word is now coming out that due to the university's financial situation, fraternity relocation is now on hold until further notice. The construction cost at the university have spiraled out of control and SMU cannot find the funds needed for their share of the relocation (2/4 - 3/4 of the cost). The Sigma Chi move has now been halted as well even though it had already been approved.

[couch 'em]

Yeah, I think our campus is way nicer than it was then, but I don't get the need to move fraternity houses. They are pretty well kept and not the typical fraternity row you see at some other schools

I think we have way bigger needs for that money.

By the way Sigma chi is going over next to sae - breaks ground this fall supposedly to make room for new alumni center.

With today's outrage industry, how much longer will single sex exclusionary greek organizations last anyway?

[Bergermeister]

Fratority?

[gostangs]

snob I don't believe that is correct. Plus the universities financial situation is fine - if not great. The issue on the Bain report is that several donors questioned the efficiency of the university - which is a valid concern. Report finished and action taken. There is not an ongoing effect on campus progress. I thin the Sigma Chi move is to make room for a building that is already mostly funded.

[StallionsModelT]

Yeah, I think our campus is way nicer than it was then, but I don't get the need to move fraternity houses. They are pretty well kept and not the typical fraternity row you see at some other schools

I think we have way bigger needs for that money.

By the way Sigma chi is going over next to sae - breaks ground this fall supposedly to make room for new alumni center.

Word is now coming out that due to the university's financial situation, fraternity relocation is now on hold until further notice. The construction cost at the university have spiraled out of control and SMU cannot find the funds needed for their share of the relocation (2/4 - 3/4 of the cost). The Sigma Chi move has now been halted as well even though it had already been approved.

Categorically and unequivocally false. There will be more capital improvements to campus in the coming years (Ford Research, IPF, Simmons, additional buildings on East Campus, etc.).

[ponyboy]

Someone posted these cool pics from the early to mid-80s on SMU facebook. For those that were there...was SMU really that bad of a place when there were frat houses close to Central, SMU students drove Volkswagon Bugs, there was only one fountain, and there was a Water Tower behind Dallas hall?

The good old days!

I was next to an 80s BMW at a stop sign the other day and remembered when it seemed every other car on campus was one of those...

I had a 1979 320i when I was a student. Loved that car.

Though I hate to see a nice older building go, Kappa house tear down is complete. Renderings look nice.

[PonySnob]

Categorically and unequivocally false. There will be more capital improvements to campus in the coming years (Ford Research, IPF, Simmons, additional buildings on East Campus, etc.).

I did not say that there would not be any additional capital improvements to campus in the coming years but rather what has been recently communicated to several groups when inquiries have been made with regards to the timing of fraternity alumni needing to raise funds for the new houses. It's really about the school allocating its funds and right now the $12-15 million SMU would spend on relocating the fraternity houses will be spent elsewhere.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Sounds like we might need another four-year fundraiser.

[Stallion]

Note on those pictures from late1970s-the Mustang Mania sticker right under the STOP in the Stop sign-Perfect

[PonyTime]

Yeah, I think our campus is way nicer than it was then, but I don't get the need to move fraternity houses. They are pretty well kept and not the typical fraternity row you see at some other schools

I think we have way bigger needs for that money.

By the way Sigma chi is going over next to sae - breaks ground this fall supposedly to make room for new alumni center.

Word is now coming out that due to the university's financial situation, fraternity relocation is now on hold until further notice. The construction cost at the university have spiraled out of control and SMU cannot find the funds needed for their share of the relocation (2/4 - 3/4 of the cost). The Sigma Chi move has now been halted as well even though it had already been approved.

Categorically and unequivocally false. There will be more capital improvements to campus in the coming years (Ford Research, IPF, Simmons, additional buildings on East Campus, etc.).

Not sure where you and gostangs are getting your info. There ARE some serious ongoing operating budget shortfalls within the university (a good % coming out of athletic department). The Bain project will address part of that - but in order to sell the Bain project, leadership told the faculty that the savings in operational side (staff) would be used solely for academics. It is slowly coming out that those savings may not really going towards academics and faculty are starting to ask questions. Outside of 500k for phd programs, no-one has been able to say what will happen to the nearly 25-28 million in savings. And believe me, the questions have been asked.

I have no issues if the cost savings go to support the athletic department. But I assure you that there are some on campus that will. Bottom line is that no building on campus should be built unless it is 80%+ funded at the outset like the Collins Center at Cox, which was last building built on campus that was funded at this level at the outset.

Tennis Center - no
Dorms - no
Simmons - ???
Health Center - ???
Swim center - ???

Frats are the least of the problems.