After reviewing seven pre-proposals regarding the future use of the space in Norris Hall currently under review, the Norris Hall Task Force has chosen three candidates to submit a full proposal by Nov. 9.
Two of the pre-proposal teams were recommended by the task force to combine their ideas into one proposal. The Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics proposed to, according to a recent press release, "re-create community" by "consolidating department operations and create state-of-the-art video conferencing, research and laboratory space for students."
A second pre-proposal came from the Center for Violence and Prevention and Peace Studies and aimed at a "student-led research program that engages faculty from numerous departments." The Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships proposed a "collaborative meeting space for students and members of community agencies." The task force recommended that these two proposals should combine into one because they compliment each other well.
After they are submitted on Nov. 9, both teams' full proposals will be reviewed and discussed in a meeting on Nov. 15. Each team will meet with the committee for presentations, questions and comments.
Provost Mark McNamee, who was appointed by President Steger after April 16, chairs the task force to discuss the future of Norris Hall. McNamee said that as of right now, no budget has been set for renovations.
McNamee said that the renovations might have to be done in phases or through modest renovations.
Renovations are "challenging because of budget reductions," McNamee said.
McNamee said that the office of the university architect will review the chosen proposal and help to develop an idea, the budget and a plan for how to handle the renovations.Steve Harrison, dean of engineering, proposed several ideas that were not chosen for full proposal, but the task force recommended that they be considered for integration into the other plans.
One of Harrison's proposals was to create classrooms for team-based projects and convert windows into full doors with balconies, in which students "can bring the outdoors in." He proposed to seal off the hallway affected by April 16 , making the "lived-in space more visible" and the "less-lived-in spaces invisible." "Norris Hall is clearly a presence and a powerful symbol on campus," Harrison said.
The decision process on what is to be done with Norris Hall is a completely open one, allowing anyone with questions or comments the ability to contact the Norris Hall Task Force, McNamme said."We're hoping that by being open, people will have the chance to think about it, and contact the task force," McNamme said. By Dec. 1, the task force will have submitted a proposal to President Charles Steger."The sooner we can use the space productively, the better," McNamee said.
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I believe the proposal from the Engineering Department should be the option pursued. The alternative, making it an area for "Peace Studies" to me, seems like building a magnet to attract radicalized professors (e.g. the Ward Connerly types) of academia. They would rant against Western culture, cheer terrorist activity as "deserved" by the United States and perpetuate themselves as victims. The Engineering Department proposal would remove the visual scars/associations with one mentally ill man's incomprehensible massacre and allow the department to expand their research in the building where they are already established, much like the waves of a high tide sweeping naturally over the imprints on the sandy coastline, without a bit of the controversy that would be attracted with the peace studies proposal.
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I agree with Fred that the Engineering Department has the right idea with the future use of Norris. By making Norris hall a "Center for Violence and Prevention and Peace Studies", I think it would only remind people of the things that happened. One person's senseless act of violence should not define the people of that day, nor should it define the building in which it happened. If we want to heal, we have to move past this. We can never forget, but Norris Hall is the home to cutting-edge research and higher learning. I believe it’s important especially to bring the ESM department back together to get the feel of community and ‘family’ that was so well established before 4/16. I agree with the idea of not having formal classrooms in Norris, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot be still utilized to benefit the professors and students.
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'We will prevail' should mean that we aren't going to let anything stop us from continuing. Put the classrooms and/or labs back in Norris and show the world we won't be intimidated.
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Whatever changes are made to the second floor of Norris Hall should reflect that Norris Hall is, above all things, a cornerstone of the College of Engineering. Any plan for the use of that space should consider the offices, labs and facilities of the Engineering Science & Mechanics Department that form the boundaries of the second floor hallway on three sides who’s occupants have had more adversity than most in attempting to return to normalcy since April. Proposals should honor those we loved and lost by contributing to the academic and scientific greatness of Virginia Tech while still permitting for quiet reflection, dignity, and remembrance of our Fallen Hokies. This would be better achieved by transforming the space into facilities for the direct benefit of students rather than into some sociological institute. The loss of those classrooms could best be ameliorated by creating study areas, laboratories, facilities with high technology such as video conferencing or computer access, or possibly expanding and giving larger facilities to the SEC’s tutoring center.
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The emotional impact of April 16 is indelible, but this impact can not distract the University from it's mandate. Norris is an engineering building. Let it remain an engineering building. As an alumnus who spent nearly a decade in Norris, I believe this building must be wholly dedicated to the University's mission of educating its students and inventing the future.
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