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Post by blackandgold on Feb 13, 2013 19:21:07 GMT -5
The Oakland website has a nice article up on a variety of improvements coming to Oakland's campus in the next year and a half. www.oakland.edu/view_news.aspx?sid=34&nid=9712These will really transform the campus. What amazes me is how the variety of improvements will please many stakeholders, including both commuters and resident students. We may not have a practice facility yet, but these improvements will hopefully help lure the eye of prospective recruits from a basketball standpoint, not to mention more prospective students in general who can then support Athletics events.
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Post by sportsdoctor05 on Feb 14, 2013 9:46:02 GMT -5
Looks great! Its about time we got track & tennis facilities.
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Post by oudrummer on Feb 14, 2013 13:15:25 GMT -5
I like a lot of this, but personally I am disappointed. While I realize it doesn't occur to many on OU's campus, the Music Theater and Dance program lacks a TON in proper and competitive space for their programs. We do not have a proper theater and concert hall on campus even. For almost 10 years now the MTD department has been told they're next. Unfortunately, they don't have the major donors sometimes required. They got pushed back for the Med Building because Beaumont came forward and became a player in that building. But, it sucks to keep seeing these improvements made to campus, but to not see MTD getting the building and space they deserve. I realize the housing is a huge priority and I believe should come first. But some of those other projects, while great, could have but put on hold or joined into a new Performing Arts building. OU has some really great performing arts programs, but lacks the space to really make it bigger. Just my whining for the day.
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Post by Pioneer on Feb 14, 2013 22:49:48 GMT -5
I believe new/renovated MTD space is next in line as far as academic building requests from the state. I do agree with you that those facilities are lacking and probably needed attention 15 years ago. Hopefully in the next few years, we will see some state funding for the project. Plus, the housing project etc is not being paid for by the state, rather the funds are coming from bonds. The academic buildings receive partial funding from the SOM.
As far as the Human Health Building, from what I understand, the medical school and Beaumont are not involved with that facility at all. The last info I read was that they would like to put a new medical school building next to the HHB once they can raise the funds privately. My hunch is there probably is more interest and funding available for something like the HHB and the new Engineering Center from the State's perspective since those fields are viewed more so as industry/job creators.
I must say I was totally shocked when I saw the new upper field renovations. Tennis and track facilities were sorely needed. I an happy that students will be able to enjoy decent rec fields as well. I am still waiting for a more complete soccer stadium and basketball practice facility, but these infrastructure updates are awesome!
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Post by Germane on Feb 15, 2013 11:51:26 GMT -5
... these infrastructure updates are awesome! Agreed. The best thing is that none of the projects are artificial enhancements (based on speculation and assumptions of future growth), but are organic responses to the very real growth of the university, both quantitatively and qualitatively, over the past decade or more. Well, maybe the carillon tower is a bit of an artificial enhancement, but at least it will be a landmark that provides visibility and a much-needed orientation point on campus. I've also heard that the performing arts center is the next major project in the pipeline (although that's been said before).
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Post by oudrummer on Feb 15, 2013 12:12:09 GMT -5
The performing arts center has been said it was next for literally over 15 years. It's a shame. MTD runs a hell of a program for what little they really have to work with. Fun fact: when OU went div 1 President Russi asked current choir faculty member and all around great Mike Mitchell to write what we now know as OU. The final OU! at the end of the fight song wasn't really supposed to be there. Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Greg Cunningham who runs the instrumental department were singing the song into the phone leaving a message for Russi to hear it. They added the OU! as a sort of joke, but it stuck and is now the end to our fight song.
Hooray for fun facts! Hooray for MTD!
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Post by sportsdoctor05 on Feb 17, 2013 20:50:15 GMT -5
I used to work in athletics a few years back, & they we're talking building track & tennis facilities back then. Eavesdropping on conversations w/ the AD it was a matter of timing to a nnounce it.
Also, regardless of where the funds come from, building a med school enhances any universities profile. Engineering is of course a game changer too. u have a legit beef, I'm just sharing the reality of things
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Post by Germane on Apr 29, 2013 10:48:24 GMT -5
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Post by Germane on Apr 29, 2013 10:58:49 GMT -5
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Post by theroundsquare on Apr 29, 2013 11:17:45 GMT -5
I wondered about the comments from the UM-Dearborn student too. I wonder how that person ended up being who was quoted. I could probably understand if they said something like OU is still working to gain recognition, etcetera, if it were actually based on something. Instead, the (lazy) reporter grabbed a comment from a student who probably has no basis to offer the judgment he is offering.
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