Taki holds final town hall of the year
By: Jordan Oseki
Issue date: 5/25/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 4:55 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 4:54 AM EST
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 4:55 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 4:54 AM EST
Safety and campus construction dominated the night's discussion as University President Constantine Papadakis held his final town hall meeting for the academic year on May 21.
Papadakis began the town hall by unveiling a new wave of construction for the next two years: three new buildings. They include a new academic building at 33rd and Chestnut streets, where the parking lot behind the Korman Center is currently located, and a new dormitory at 33rd and Powelton streets that will replace the tennis courts, with the courts being moved to the empty lot near 7-11. A major addition to the Daskalakis Athletic Center, which will include an indoor running track, more basketball and squash courts and a climbing wall, was also announced.
Papadakis also mentioned an expansion to the Queen Lane Medical Campus, which includes an 18,000 square foot building that will house the women's medical program, and new simulator tools that are used to train doctors. Finally, he mentioned that the University is in negotiations to lease the armory at 33rd and Lancaster and convert it to an athletic and convocation center, which will seat approximately 4,000 spectators.
Several students raised concerns about Drexel Public Safety, including the area they patrol, their escort program, and their response to emergency situations. Students related stories about not being walked all the way to their residences off-campus, officers not pursuing the walk to the Vidas Fields on 42nd and Powelton and about incidents in which DPS officers responded late or not at all to emergencies. Papadakis commented that Drexel did recently increase their public safety numbers by ten percent, and moved their northern boundary from Powelton Avenue to Spring Garden Street. He also stressed that Drexel Security has limited powers off of the campus. He suggested that all students who are concerned should e-mail him at papadakis@drexel.edu
Although many students acknowledge that security is improving, some feel that more can still be done to make the student body safer.
"As my time here at Drexel goes by, I am feeling more and more unsafe when I am walking around. I'm not saying that every student should have a bodyguard, but I think there is a problem when Drexel sets security perimeters around streets instead of students," said Amanda Vitiello, a sophomore majoring in Architectural Engineering.
Papadakis also announced that the College of Law has received a donation of fifteen million dollars from university alumni Earle Mack with the requirement that they must raise fifteen million more to match it. Additionally, the board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the naming of the law school to be changed to the "Earle Mack School of Law".
Papadakis began the town hall by unveiling a new wave of construction for the next two years: three new buildings. They include a new academic building at 33rd and Chestnut streets, where the parking lot behind the Korman Center is currently located, and a new dormitory at 33rd and Powelton streets that will replace the tennis courts, with the courts being moved to the empty lot near 7-11. A major addition to the Daskalakis Athletic Center, which will include an indoor running track, more basketball and squash courts and a climbing wall, was also announced.
Papadakis also mentioned an expansion to the Queen Lane Medical Campus, which includes an 18,000 square foot building that will house the women's medical program, and new simulator tools that are used to train doctors. Finally, he mentioned that the University is in negotiations to lease the armory at 33rd and Lancaster and convert it to an athletic and convocation center, which will seat approximately 4,000 spectators.
Several students raised concerns about Drexel Public Safety, including the area they patrol, their escort program, and their response to emergency situations. Students related stories about not being walked all the way to their residences off-campus, officers not pursuing the walk to the Vidas Fields on 42nd and Powelton and about incidents in which DPS officers responded late or not at all to emergencies. Papadakis commented that Drexel did recently increase their public safety numbers by ten percent, and moved their northern boundary from Powelton Avenue to Spring Garden Street. He also stressed that Drexel Security has limited powers off of the campus. He suggested that all students who are concerned should e-mail him at papadakis@drexel.edu
Although many students acknowledge that security is improving, some feel that more can still be done to make the student body safer.
"As my time here at Drexel goes by, I am feeling more and more unsafe when I am walking around. I'm not saying that every student should have a bodyguard, but I think there is a problem when Drexel sets security perimeters around streets instead of students," said Amanda Vitiello, a sophomore majoring in Architectural Engineering.
Papadakis also announced that the College of Law has received a donation of fifteen million dollars from university alumni Earle Mack with the requirement that they must raise fifteen million more to match it. Additionally, the board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the naming of the law school to be changed to the "Earle Mack School of Law".
