Keene State College has multiple renovation plans in progress to several campus buildings and spaces, and it is about time that these renovations commence.
A lot of the buildings on campus are too old and need to be fixed up. Carle Hall, in particular, is a building that is in desperate need of improvement, considering many students report cracks in the ceilings and stains on the furniture.
Carle Hall is even off the Keene State tour route for incoming students; The Equinox thinks that not showing Carle Hall during tours should say enough about the condition of the building. It is hard to navigate and the lighting is poor. One of the renovation plans for Carle Hall is fixing the bathrooms, which is a good idea since there are often problems with the bathrooms.
A lot of vandalism occurs in Carle Hall. On Jan. 24 the assistant director of community living, Katherine Potts, sent an email to residents of Carle Hall that, at the time of transmission, nine exit signs had been broken in the past weekend. There were also “dozens” of bathroom signs taken down and the walls had been damaged. If the building was in better condition, it might show a decrease in vandalism.
Keene State should be enthused to show off all of the buildings on campus, not just the newest ones. Improved buildings will bring more people to Keene State that will be enthused to stay.
The renovations also include improvements to classroom spaces. The Equinox believes that this is a good idea since there is an inconsistency when it comes to classrooms. Classes in the newer academic spaces, such as the Science Center and Cohen Center, are great, but in KSC’s older buildings, such as Morrison Hall and Joslin House, the conditions are in need of an update. These older spaces tend to get stuffy in the spring as the weather gets warmer, so it would be worth investing time and money into helping students feel more comfortable while attending class.
The Equinox believes that renovations that have to do with updating accessibility conditions for students with disabilities should be at the forefront of this project. Disabled students deserve consistent accommodations across campus, and there is definite room for improvement when it comes to accessibility.
Many of the buildings on campus are not as accessible as they could be. Notably, the dorm options for first-year students with disabilities are often restricted to a small number. At Keene State, that option is the Living and Learning Commons (LLC). More options need to be available to disabled students, it is not fair to have to limit them.
The Equinox believes all of the renovations that Keene State has planned are fantastic and necessary for the appeal of the campus. It is wise that Keene State is putting their time and money into these improvements so that the campus can be enjoyed by all. Most importantly, the comfort of the students will be treated as a priority.
It is better late than never to begin improving and The Equinox is glad that the campus is finally able to start.
