http://www.westernherald.com/opinion/kmart-consideration-for-archives-saddens-alumnus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kmart-consideration-for-archives-saddens-alumnus Western Herald Online News Service Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:42:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.westernherald.com/opinion/kmart-consideration-for-archives-saddens-alumnus/comment-page-1/#comment-24807 Gregory Moorehead Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:39:54 +0000 http://www.westernherald.com/?p=15350#comment-24807 As an alum of WMU, reading Mr. Wright's article makes me very sad, not because his opinion is ill-informed, but because he is correct on so many points. However, I am hopeful that WMU President, Dr. John Dunn who has shown exceptional leadership in coordinating interested constituents for a WMU medical school, will demonstrate the same caliber of leadership required to restore to prominence, the Historic East Campus. After all, developing a medical school, without any state funding, is a much more daunting endeavor than restoring five historic buildings. Furthermore, restoration of the East Campus structures is a one-time cost; while funding a medical school will be an ongoing, significant financial obligation. I am confident that Dr. Dunn and our great university are capable of both, and it can be done through a combination of public and private funding. This means that the University's next capital request to Lansing must include funding for the restoration of East Hall, West Hall, North Hall, the former Speech & Hearing Center, and Vandercook Hall. These buildings must be the top five priorities on WMU's "wish list". The University's must also include funding for the restoration of these structures in its next capital campaign. Then, the University should use bonds to finance whatever funding is not covered by the state or through the capital campaign. As an alum of WMU, reading Mr. Wright’s article makes me very sad, not because his opinion is ill-informed, but because he is correct on so many points. However, I am hopeful that WMU President, Dr. John Dunn who has shown exceptional leadership in coordinating interested constituents for a WMU medical school, will demonstrate the same caliber of leadership required to restore to prominence, the Historic East Campus. After all, developing a medical school, without any state funding, is a much more daunting endeavor than restoring five historic buildings. Furthermore, restoration of the East Campus structures is a one-time cost; while funding a medical school will be an ongoing, significant financial obligation. I am confident that Dr. Dunn and our great university are capable of both, and it can be done through a combination of public and private funding. This means that the University’s next capital request to Lansing must include funding for the restoration of East Hall, West Hall, North Hall, the former Speech & Hearing Center, and Vandercook Hall. These buildings must be the top five priorities on WMU’s “wish list”. The University’s must also include funding for the restoration of these structures in its next capital campaign. Then, the University should use bonds to finance whatever funding is not covered by the state or through the capital campaign.

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