Center is behind schedule

Great Neck North High School, N.Y. Almost three years behind schedule, the Revlon Campus Center seems to finally be nearing its groundbreaking at 36th and Walnut streets. A design plan for the Center has been decided upon by Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson. He must now submit this plan to the University Board of Trustees for its approval. The Center, which was originally set to open in 1993, is now slated to be completed by 1996. Last October, Lazerson sent back design plans that placed the cost for building the center at $65 million. "We could not in good conscience go ahead with the costs as outlined," Lazerson said. The plan that Lazerson eventually approved this April will cost $36 million, according to acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. The newest addition to the previous proposals is the inclusion of mailboxes for every residential student. Lazerson said recent mail problems may be alleviated if all mail to be delivered on-campus comes to one place -- the Revlon Center. The Center will contain an auditorium and a Black Box theater, as well as a box office, six music practice rooms and two large rehearsal rooms. Nine meeting rooms, a 24-hour study lounge, a periodical room, a music listening room and student offices for all undergraduate and graduate sections of student government will be included. The center will also include a food area whose format has yet to be specified. Lazerson said it will not be like the current food court at 3401 Walnut Street. The most intriguing aspect of this plan, however, is that it involves the construction of two buildings, a free-standing book store and the actual Revlon Campus Center. Although the cost of the Center will be less than the original $65 million price tag, the new price only takes into account construction of the Center building itself. Currently, only $11.5 million has been raised to fund the Center's construction. Revlon Chief Executive Officer and University alumnus Ron Perelman donated $10 million. The other $1.5 million has been pledged by the classes of 1966 and 1967.

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