History Dept. wants to go home

Think it's hard being away from home? Try six years. That's how long the History Department has been away from its real home, College Hall. And, according to History Department Chairwoman Lynn Lees, the department is stuck in its temporary home -- 3401 Walnut Street-- for another five to seven years. Needless to say, the department is not exactly thrilled about its extended exile from the campus' oldest building to the top of a modern food court. "I think College Hall has a distinctive ambiance that I associate with a University setting," History Professor Bruce Kuklick said. "That 3401 is low-end corporate -- [similar to] a cheap law firm." "It's a disgrace that Judy Rodin has stopped working on [a] building that is central to the academic mission of the University," Kuklick said. The History Department was relocated to the 3401 Walnut Street complex, above the Moravian Cafe food court, in 1995. While the department was originally scheduled to move back to College Hall by the spring of 1999, its move has been endlessly delayed. Construction on the east wing of College Hall stalled due to resource constraints and is scheduled to be completed next month. Only then will renovations begin on the west wing. But officials were vague as to an exact start or finish date. "It's a priority... [but] the challenge that we have is that it will require a lot of resources to vacate the west side," Vice President of Facilities Services Omar Blaik said. "It hasn't been finalized how we can tackle the west [wing]." According to Blaik, the History Department's move back home is delayed because of the intricate structure of College Hall. Blaik explained that College Hall's complex support structure has been the main obstacle to completing renovations. Though most buildings have column or beam support structures, Blaik explained that College Hall's stone walls themselves support the structures, making renovations in College Hall more difficult than other renovations on campus. Lees, however, did not feel that the renovations were being prioritized by the University. "Finishing College Hall is not at the top of their priority list," Lees said. She said the department has been "reminding the administration that we would like to go back." The delays in construction do not come as a surprise to members of the History Department -- some have even given up on moving back to one of the oldest buildings on campus altogether. "Some people in the department say that they doubt it will happen," History Professor Michele Zelinsky said. Zelinsky added, however, that she has adjusted to 3401 and thinks they have a lot of space. But Lees noted that the ventilation is poor and there is a lack of space to house the growing department.

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