Pres., provost offer support for Revlon

University officials have reaffirmed their commitment to the Revlon Center in light of doubts about the project's future. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said yesterday that President Judith Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow "have confirmed that they absolutely support the campus center program." Last Wednesday, Rodin and Chodorow said they wanted to re-view plans for the Center and all capital projects on campus. McCoullum said Rodin and Chodorow have authorized her to work actively with students to discuss strategies for expanding the availability of student meeting and performing arts space. The VPUL said some of the projects her department has in mind include additional student meeting places, an enhanced commuter center and cafes. Her office has already rented performance practice space in the Christian Association for student groups. "But we are now going to move even beyond those initiatives to put in place some additional proposals about what the campus needs," McCoullum added. The president and provost are anxious to move forward with these projects, she said. "They want to make sure we move forward as the other elements for the financing are developed," she said. "The president, the provost and I will work closely with the executive vice president, the deans and the director of athletics on interim steps to advance all program elements." McCoullum added that the administration wants "to make sure that steps are being taken immediately so that people see visible symbols of progress." She said her department is ready to move ahead with the project. "In the division of University Life, whatever we can implement immediately, I am absolutely committed to do," McCoullum said. She added that while some of her plans have been authorized, she wants to implement more proposals as soon as possible. "I want to have an interim set of opportunities in place no later than January 15, but if possible I would like to begin some of them as early as November 1," she said. She said she is excited by the idea of working on this project. "It is absolutely terrific that they want us to work closely with students to move forward," McCoullum said. She added that since students are the main users of the facilities and participants in the programs, it is important to her that students are partners in the process. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta discussed several of the proposals that the department has already implemented. Last year the VPUL office created a catalog of all spaces on campus available for students. They now are working to make this space accessible to students, he added. And they have been negotiating cheaper rates for renting campus space, Moneta said. "I have confidence that if we put together a good plan, the University will work with us to make space available to students," he said. They are also working with the movie theaters, he said. According to United Assembly and College senior Dan Schorr, several UA members are pushing to get a real movie theater to replace the AMC Walnut on 40th and Walnut streets, which closed down last month. The members are also hoping to fill the Eric Theater on 40th Street with performing arts space. "Since the Revlon Center is being delayed once again, something has to be done imminently to alleviate the need for performing arts space," he said. For security reasons, it is a good idea to have a lot of people around the 40th street area, he added. "Having a movie theater and a performing arts center will liven up the area because there will be more people around and there is safety in numbers," he said.