Editorial: The future of Norris Hall
CT Editorial Board
April 26, 2007
After the tragic events that happened last week, Norris Hall's future has been under close scrutiny by the university administration, students, faculty and the rest of the nation. Norris Hall will not have the same character that it had before the shootings. Undoubtedly, whenever anybody walks into Norris Hall, a shroud of fear, horror, disgust or sorrowful memories will creep into their mind.
Tearing down Norris Hall could easily solve this problem. However, if Norris Hall stood tall, it would represent the fortitude and strength of this school and these students.
Some students note that they would never be able to go into Norris Hall again. That just thinking of the events that perspired in Norris Hall could easily drive them to not enter.
Another alternative is to leave the building up. Let the building stand as a memorial by itself. Changing the floor plan could alleviate pain by making it unrecognizable. The memorial inside Norris Hall could honor the events of April 16. The victims, law enforcement, students and faculty could all be honored in this memorial.
The current objects and memorials sent by so many other schools in Squires Student Center could be moved to Norris Hall, making Norris Hall their permanent home.
This option has been debated over by many classes, students and even colleges and departments at Virginia Tech. Numerous offices are located in Norris Hall and need to find permanent homes somewhere else on campus.
Norris Hall is also extremely outdated compared to other academic buildings on campus. By tearing down Norris Hall and building a new academic hall, it would be a gift to everyone located in Norris Hall. It would be easier to teach classes and would lend to better research facilities for graduate students and faculty.
Norris Hall, although mainly an engineering building, contains classes ranging from international studies, liberal arts and languages to sciences and agricultural. Norris Hall is used by almost if not every college in this university.
Ultimately a panel should be formed to determine the future of Norris Hall. Students as well as faculty and staff could add suggestions of what to do with the building and based on this the panel set up by the university could decide on Norris Hall.
Whatever Norris䴜 future, it should be determined soon and should be completed by the beginning of the next fall semester.