College may move office to H. Hall

Within the next two weeks, plans to rearrange the current office set-up of Houston Hall will be proposed, Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson said last night. One plan under discussion includes moving the offices of the College of Arts and Sciences from the Mellon Bank building to Houston Hall. The Office of the Vice Provost for University Life would then be moved to Mellon Bank and the Office of Student Life, Activities and Facilities would take the VPUL's current location in Houston Hall. "The College is talking about its desire to become more centrally located on campus," Lazerson said. "I think building a real College of Arts and Sciences precinct is what matters -- a place that arts and sciences students can call home. "I think we're going to see many plans redefining the campus over the next few months," he added. Fran Walker, director of the Office of Student Life, said space constraints would force someone to relocate if the College offices are moved. "The assumption is, when the College talked about coming into Houston Hall, there isn't room for everyone, so someone has to move," Walker said. "Certain moves will definitely be necessary." Though Lazerson stressed that the rearrangement of offices is only part of a general discussion right now, and not a definitive move, School of Arts and Sciences Associate Undergraduate Dean Matthew Santirocco said the move will happen. "Yes, the College is moving into Houston Hall," he said last night. "The exact configuration of our space and that of the people who are already there has yet to be discussed. "We don't want any student services to be displaced," Santirocco added. "I've been working very hard to create a student-oriented campus and this move is both symbolically and practically a means of achieving that end." But Assistant Director of Student Life, Activities and Facilities Kathy Krautter said she is concerned about the moves and their implications. "The space in Houston Hall is meant to be a common area for students, faculty and staff for life outside of academics," she said. "At a University that claims to be a community -- that wants to have a sense of inclusion in the community -- decisions like this are an obvious indication that that's not always true." Lazerson said a great deal of discussion has taken place and will continue to occur over the next two weeks about the various options available to those offices. "There's a whole set of discussions going on," he said. But Krautter said her office has not been consulted about the issue. "The fact that it's been discussed without our involvement is disappointing," she said. "There are potentially some hard feelings because we haven't been consulted. "I think it is unfortunate that it is as much of a surprise to all of us as it is to the students," she added. "It really has been a surprise to everyone." Many administrators were unsure of plans' certainty. "There's been some discussion but I don't know if it's a definite," Assistant Vice Provost for University Life Barbara Cassel said. "I think it's a fine idea," she added. Santirocco said the move would be very "appropriate." "The College serves 6,000 students," he said. "It's appropriate to be on campus and in a building associated with students because it will enable us to give the best services to students." "It will also symbolically represent the centrality of the College in student life," he added. Santirocco said he hopes the changes would occur "soon." "The College can't wait until [the Revlon Center] is built to move," he said. Krautter said if the moves are made, they will occur before this summer. Acting VPUL Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum could not be reached for comment.