PHOTO | DINO GRIEGO - Artist's rendering of the remodeled JBK
Dino Griego
Staff Writer
Since 1910, West Texas A&M University has continually been seeing change. Financially, the college gives people a great degree for a great price. On a global scale, the administration makes sure that the technology is up-to-date and competitive at a national level. From a top of the line HD studio, to a newly renovated classroom center, to an up and coming sports complex, WT makes strides to enhance the future.
During Oct. 6-7, students will vote on another progressive motion–the JBK expansion. Last year the referendum failed, leaving a logistical nightmare for the influx of college freshmen. However, this year people are looking hopeful to see a significant change.
“We built the Jack B. Kelly student center to accommodate approximately 6,000 people,” Dr. Don Albrecht, vice president for student services, said. “Now, we’re having to use that space to provide for almost 8,000 students and falculty. We don’t have enough room.”
With such a big project at hand, people are hesitant to vote for a potentially high fee increase, an increase most collegiate students do not want to pay.
Others have concern about incoming freshmen and their participation in voting. The campus stresses not working for the first semester and a fee increase could be costly in years to come.
“If we wait any longer, the cost to build will only be more expensive in the future,” Albrecht said. “This increase is modest compared to other endeavors this University has had to make. The fee is an affordable price.”
Having more students on campus reflects a working community, a community where communication trickles down from the president to the students. Still, having so many people on campus without accommodating them doesn’t shed a positive light for WT.
“Everyday the JBK reaches its full potential,” Albrecht said. “We’re more crowded than ever. Our organizations have less space. People have to wait longer for our services.”
“Could we live without the renovations? Yes. But would the JBK expansion allow us to better utilize the facility–definitely.”
In order for the referendum to be voted on by the students, the WTAMU Student Senate had to argue over this issue.
“We had several heated debates,” Tim Vela, president of student senate, said. “We wanted to give the best possible referendum available, and that meant we had to hash out all of the lesser points.”
“We worked hard, and each senator had their opinion, but ultimately we decided it was time to let the students put their voice to use.”
As part of student government, Kenny Clift, a sophomore corporate communications major, finds the issue very easy to settle.
“Basically we’re overburdened,” Clift said. “When we’re reaching a critical level and not able to satisfy the needs of each student, change must happen.”
“Am I happy about the fee increase? Not really, but I will do my part to make WT a better college, that should go without saying.”
For more information about the fee increases, Dr. Albrecht has information in his office located inside the JBK.
“If I had to tell a student who was on the fence one thing,” Albrecht said, “The time to build is now.”
PHOTO | DINO GRIEGO - The current JBK
I’m a WT alum wondering why this isn’t being done with a corporate sponsorship.
Work something out with naming rights for the new addition part to the JBK.
WTAMU definitely needs to be doing more with sponsorships from large national corporations.
This project is a good place for a corporate sponsorship to help reduce the cost to students.
Also…Kimbrough Memorial Stadium is in need of the same type of renovation that AISD did to Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo.
And that is also a very good place to secure a sponsorship and naming rights from a national corporate sponsor like Tech did with Jones AT&T Stadium.