Funding distribution questioned

Controversy has been swirling around IU trustee approved funds, appropriated by IU administrators for the construction of the Simon Hall Multi-Disciplinary Science building. \nTrustee Pat Shoulders voiced his concern in a May 7 trustees board meeting when he remarked that $1.6 million of the funds raised in IU's Commitment to Excellence initiative were being inappropriately used for construction purposes in the Simon Hall project. \nThe Commitment to Excellence program consists of plans for expanding the University's academic sphere by funding multi-disciplinary programs, faculty additions, new majors and new research initiatives. In 2002, the board of trustees agreed to increase IU-Bloomington tuition by $1,000 which became effective fall of 2003, approving the administration's Commitment to Excellence initiative. \n"I questioned what the construction had to do with CTE (Commitment to Excellence) plans. I don't remember that it had to do with brick and mortars," Shoulders said. "The trustees didn't levy these increments lightly. We were convinced that it was going towards programs outlined in the CTE plan and not towards seeping cracks in budgetary holes."\nUniversity officials responded by claiming the money is not going to the actual construction of Simon Hall but rather to equipping it.\n"It was a big misunderstanding. (Shoulders) thought we were paying to build the building but we are really going to equip the building," Neil Theobold, Vice Chancellor for Budget Administration said. \nHe described Simon Hall as a turnkey building meaning once built, Simon Hall will be fully operational. \n"Education is really changing. All this stuff is high-tech now. When you build the building, you equip it with labs. You just don't drag in bunson burners later," Theobold explained.\nShoulders is not totally convinced though. He still wants verification from the University that the plan they proposed in 2002 has not been altered.\n"I'd just like confirmation that the University forecasted the use of the money in that manner two years ago," Shoulders explained. "I'd like someone to verify that for me."\nThe construction of Simon Hall was approved under the CTE initiative which consists of seven projects for the first year. Four of the projects deal with life sciences and the others are aimed at improving the music, international studies and cognitive sciences departments. \n"Simon Hall is part of MSB (Multi-Disciplinary Science Building) Phase 1. Phase 2 deals with the building of another MSB on 10th Street," Department of Biology Chairman Beth Raff said. "We are taking people from different fields -- biology, chemistry, biophysics, medical sciences -- and bringing them together. It's synergistic. The whole is greater than the individual parts."\nConstruction for the Simon Hall Multi-Disciplinary Science building is expected to begin June 3 across from Myers Hall. \n-- Contact staff writer Aaron Uslan at auslan@indiana.edu.