Construction continues on Simon Hall

With winter nearing, many students walk by the 80,000 square-foot hole that will be the new multi-disciplinary science building Simon Hall and wonder, "Will it ever be finished?"\nUnfortunately, the answer is not very soon. Completion is projected to be 2007. But the addition of a shortcut behind Jordan Hall to Ballantine has made the trek to class easier for many students.\n"It was a pain," said sophomore Eric Turrin. "I had to walk all the way around the Chemistry building."\nSophomore Brittany Gableman was happy with the shortcut, although it didn't take too much time off her daily commute to classes.\n"I only had to walk from Woodburn to Third Street, but it did make it a little easier," Gableman said.\nThis, along with the noise, is a major problem for many students. \nSophomore Olivia Zaltz said although she is irritated by the noise, she tries to ignore it.\n"It's kind of annoying," Zaltz said, "but it isn't bad unless someone in my class mentions it. Then I start to notice it."\nTurrin isn't bothered by it much, although he notes that others in his classes are.\n"It doesn't really bother me, but this girl in front of me always bitches about it," Turrin said.\nBut this inconvenience is a necessary evil for the benefit of IU sciences. According to a June 7 Indiana Daily Student article, Kumble Subbaswamy, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, sees the new building as a bridge. He said he believes it will link all of the different sciences taught at IU together and allow the University to share its research with the Bloomington community. \n"The multidisciplinary science building has the potential to improve our quality of life through medical advances and developments in biotechnology industries," Subbaswamy said in a letter on the College of Arts and Sciences Web site.\nThe building will include a basement and five above-ground floors. Workers have not yet begun construction, as they are still in the digging phase of the project. \nThe rockiness of the Bloomington land is responsible for the building's extensive digging time, according to a June 28 IDS article.\nBut there has been progress. The College of Arts and Sciences Web site reveals that all but $5 million has been raised for the building's construction, a large dent in a building with a total cost of $55.7 million dollars. But Zaltz thinks she can live with waiting.\n"It's difficult right now, but it sounds like the new building will be good for IU as a whole," Zaltz said. \n-- Contact staff writer Cecelia Wolford at cwolford@indiana.edu.