THROUGHOUT history there have been many walls of oppression and exclusion throughout the world. The Berlin Wall was the "Iron Curtain" between the Soviet bloc and the western world. The Walls of Istanbul prevented the Ottoman Turks from entering Istanbul. The Great Wall of China was constructed to prevent invasions from barbarians. And now, on a much less important scale, there is the Great Red Wall of Library Blockage. The wall prevents University students from getting to Clemons and Alderman libraries from Newcomb and nearby areas without a long and arduous trek either around the wall and along McCormick Road, or behind Clemons Library and up several flights of stairs. This wall is annoying. It is also ugly.
This wall has been the bane of thousands of students' existence for months now. It will remain up for two years. This is unacceptable. University Facilities Management needs to work to make at least a small opening in this wall to allow students to enter Clemons and Alderman areas from the side of Newcomb. While this proposal has been deemed by some to be a little costly, I have personally come up with a few solutions to create an opening in this wall. I, for one, am willing to personally punch a hole in this wall using an axe, saw or other sharp object. Also, there is the possibility of using the wall as a stress-reliever during finals week. Students could pick up a "Community of Trust" ice pick and go to town on the Big Red Wall. More low-cost solutions like these surely will present themselves as time goes on.
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The purpose for the wall seems clear - to provide cover and a staging ground for ongoing construction on the new Special Collections Library in the area where Miller Hall currently stands. This is both logical and typical of construction around Grounds - the renovations and extensions to the Science and Engineering Library is a great example. These renovations boast a massive and ugly combination of high chain-link fence and black-painted wooden wall around the construction site behind Clark Hall. Unlike the red wall, however, the Science and Engineering Library wall does not extend ridiculously outward into the parking lot of Kerchof Hall adjacent to it, blocking traffic and most parking spaces there. In fact, compensations for the wall's presence and construction in general have been made there. Additional parking spaces have been added to make up the lost spaces due to the wall. The road in front of Kerchof also has been repaired multiple times following work or damage filtering over from the construction site. Overall, besides the obvious noise, backhoe traffic and other headaches typical with massive construction, the renovations there have been relatively unobtrusive to both student and vehicular traffic alike.
However, Satan's Wall extends not just around the front of Miller and the large grassy area in front of it, but also behind Miller, completely hindering passage from Newcomb and areas around it, like Peabody Hall and the McIntire School of Commerce. This is where a change must be made.
Facilities Management failed to compensate for the implications of erecting this wall. Thousands of students used to traverse the path now cut off by the God-forsaken wall daily. The wonderful green grass in front of Miller was a prime spot for throwing the Frisbee or stopping to talk with friends on a sunny day. There are sentimental losses resulting from this wall and the construction which accompanies it that no one ever could put a price tag on. The very least the University should do to make up for these losses is open a small area behind Miller in the wall to allow access to Clemons and Alderman from the front side of Newcomb. No construction is taking place there now. Only the land itself for the building site is being cleared and set up for the beginnings of the Special Collections Library's foundation. There still is time to enjoy that little sidewalk behind Miller leading to Clemons before construction really gets moving. There still is time to enjoy a view of the right side of the bizarre James Rogers McConnell statue outside Clemons. There is no reason to deny University students the convenience of this path without warning and before construction actually begins. Suggestions to correct the wall problem include a second entrance to Clemons on the second floor, a raised temporary walkway or simply leaving the temporary opening there as long as feasibly possible. Financial and logistic concerns, however, have put these options on hold. Let us, then, consider the quick and dirty solution of making an opening in the wall.
Facilities Management needs to consider the needs of students. Concerns over this wall are widespread and emotions are growing tenser each day.
Something must give. That something is the wall.
Making an opening in the wall is the right move for the University. Thousands of students, faculty and staff who once used the convenience of the short path to Clemons and Alderman from Newcomb will be redeemed and content once again. Complaints will be quieted. Most importantly, the University community actually may begin looking forward to the construction of the Special Collections Library, instead of the current state of unrest, hand-wringing and suppressed rage.
(Austen Givens' column appears Mondays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at agivens@cavalierdaily.com.)
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