EDITORIAL: New space for academics

The University needs to act fast in deciding which departments can use the Faculty Club space. With the Faculty Club relocating to the Inn at Penn in Sansom Common, one or more academic departments in need of new facilities could become Skinner Hall's new residents. If administrators knew since this summer that the Faculty Club space would become available, an announcement should have been made earlier. The feasibility study could have already been underway, maybe even completed by now. Several departments have asked to be relocated, such as the Fine Arts, Psychology and Political Science departments. And although the space won't be ready for new occupants until 1999, departments that are in temporary or old facilities would probably like to know if they will have a more permanent home in the future. While specifications of the space will determine which departments will actually fit in the Faculty Club, administrators know who needs space and what the location offers. A decision should be made fairly quickly Academic space around the University is limited. And with the renovations to College Hall and Logan Hall and the construction of the Institute for Advanced Science Technology, the University is juggling around departments. Administrators need to determine which departments are going where and soon. Permanent homes and new facilities for departments will only help department chairpersons as they develop new academic goals in their respective fields.