A Ribbon is Cut
On Monday, January 23, 2006 the new LDV building, or ‘North Campus’, was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony- though this may come as a surprise to those students who have been attending class in the LDV classrooms for the past week. Today was the official leap in Franklin College’s attempt to become “the premier learning institution in the heart of Europe,” said President Erik Nielsen. In a series of speeches from Nielsen, Dean Armando Zanecchia, and, Wilfred Gaines, co-founder of Franklin College, a confident tone of genuine progression was conveyed.
The construction of the new academic building has been a few years in the making, due to the growing student body and faculty. The new facility has numerous faculty offices, four ‘state of the art' fully functional classrooms, an additional Electronic Classroom, a luxurious faculty lounge, and needed writing skills center. There is currently unused space, but Dean Zanecchia explained proposed ideas such as a graphics arts lab and library annex.
While few would deny that an expansion of the campus is a positive move, there has been a general disappointment in the appearance of the building itself. “I don't like the outside at all,” says Freshman Michael Keller. “It makes it feel too modern and takes away from the traditional sense (of the rest of the campus).” There is a noticeable difference in material used on the new third level, creating a lack of cohesion between the sections, causing some confusion. Some people think they will try to match the sections soon, some claim that is the way it is supposed to look. Either way, to most returning students, the third floor does not quite feel like Franklin College yet.
Aside from the disappointing use of office scissors to cut the impressive and large red ribbon, the ceremony was a tremendous representation of the college's move towards greater notoriety and credibility. Residing diplomat and co-founder of Franklin College , Wilfred Gaines, expressed the importance of the new building and the milestone it represented. With great pride he stated “This College really looks like a University now.”
