Highlights of the Nov 12, 2001, meeting of the College Park Senate
Special (and only) Order of the day: Provost William Destler gave
a lengthy presentation of the Facilities Master Plan (FMP), the result
of a yearlong process. Main issues were environment and
transportation: building a culture of excellence, partnerships with
private companies, and campus beautification (removal of all vehicles
from campus except the shuttle, creation of greenways & malls, and
replacement of blacktops parking with garages).
There were many questions asked about the many changes related to
"becautification". Dorr (CS) asked about potential heightened crime,
given that blacktops will now be replaced with garages (which are
known crime spots); Destler replied that (perhaps) cameras and the
shuttle service would be part of the solution. Resnik (UMIACS) asked
if there had been any discussion about addressing information
technology needs; Destler replied that strategic planning by the
Office of Information Technology would address this issue.
Dozens of other questions were asked, some of which are
highlighted here: (1) Shen in Architecture asked about the purple line
which wasn't mentioned in the plan; Deslter replied that the purple
line would run through a tunnel beneath campus and stations would be
underground; (2) Korenman of Academic Planning asked about whether the
plan could be both pedestrian-friendly and bicycle-friendly, given the
increased shuttle service; Destler pointed to the lines of traffic we
have currently and replied that this new plan would be an improvement;
(3) Toms in Agriculture proposed that the planned green vistas should
not just be lawns (which require pesticides and herbicides) but that
there should be natural grasslands---and she also mentioned that if
agricultural land is to be taken from the College of Agriculture, it
should be replaced; Destler replied that there is a commitment to
preserving sufficient agricultural land for the instructional and
research mission of the College of Agriculture; (4) Norwood
recommended reviewing the plan every five years; Deslter noted that he
would add the date to the Plan; (5) Stuart in Facilities Management
asked for assurances that demolished farm barns slated would be
replaced; Destler replied that no decision had been made regarding the
farm barns, but that the university has made a strong commitment to
maintain what the College of Agriculture would need for its
instructional and research missions for the present and the future.
Bonnie Dorr & Don Perlis
Senators, Department of Computer Science