The Student Center is open.  Workmen will be putting finishing touches on the place for weeks to come and some of the key card access  system still leaves a bit to be desired, but the very snazzy space is now available.  There is a common area for studying and offices for journals and organizations.  When the West Patio is finished it should be a primo location.  Who even remembers the long delay and last minute glitches?   Well, ok, perhaps you do, but the result is a good one and I love happy endings.

The giant excavation in what used to be the courtyard is moving along by fits and starts.  Naturally once they began to dig they found that the foundation of the existing building was not exactly what they expected.  If you heard a lot of noise yesterday, that was a product of this discovery.  No one knows for sure what this will all mean, but they are looking into it.  As soon as I know something, I will pass it along.

Happy Chinese New Year.  It is the Year of the Ox.   Looks like a good fit to me.

BB

Some very warm winds have kicked off the new semester. Over the Break the contractors worked hard to get the noisiest work done. It looks like they succeeded. But there is no doubt that challenging days lie ahead. I sent an e-mail to the student body this morning that listed five items worth knowing. They are set out below. BTW, this is the week that the law school is in session and the rest of campus is not. Do your banking and University business now before the hoards return. Here are the five…..

1. The long-awaited mail slots are now in place. You will find them just outside the Computer Labs in the Law Library. There should be a folder for each student. This will allow folks to leave and receive messages in paper form. (Paper messaging is reportedly the latest innovation from Apple. Have you used iPaper?) Check it out.

2. It looks like the new Student Area will be done on time. Everyone should be moving back from Hearst Annex as planned. Lots of coordination and logistics will be involved in getting everyone into the space and set up, but it is actually happening.

3. The Registrar’s Office will be moving from its current location to the MoFo Room, most likely in February, while its normal space is remodeled. There should be no major disruption in service, though the Registrar’s staff will have to do a good bit of improvisation. We will keep you posted concerning the relevant dates.

4. Room 140 is usable but not quite complete. it looks a bit unfinished now because the media upgrades are, well, unfinished. It will get much snazzier before long.

5. The construction project is now within the control of the Campus and the contractor. No one is sure what the coming months will hold, but we will do everything possible to make things work. Having never been associated with a major construction project that did not include several major surprises, I am sure that we will encounter our share. I will keep you posted so that you know what I know. As ever, if you encounter problems or have questions, let me know.