INDIANAPOLIS -- The IU board of trustees voted to demolish seven buildings within the Ashton Center and renovate much of the IU School of Law and law library. The board also listened to remarks from IU President Adam Herbert about the necessity of securing scholarships for the University. \nThe board approved both proposals unanimously during a business meeting Friday at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis. \n
Ashton Demolition
\nThe Ashton Center proposal will now allow the University to begin demolition of seven buildings in Ashton Center, including Coulter Hall, Aley Hall, Aydelotte Hall, Moenkhaus Hall, Ashton Hall, Scott Hall and Foley Hall. The remaining buildings in the complex will continue to house students and academic activities. \n"The buildings in the Ashton Center have lived beyond their use," said Stephen Ferguson, president of the board of trustees. "They are hard to maintain, contain asbestos and are unneeded." \nFerguson said the asbestos within the building has not yet been a hazard to anyone's health.\nIU Architect Bob Meadows said the buildings targeted for demolition have been unoccupied and the utilities have been shut off, as the buildings have been phased out over a number of years.\nMeadows said the plan is to start the razing of the seven buildings by this spring. The demolition will cost $2.2 million.\nThe razing of Ashton is part of the University's long-term plan to renovate the facilities within Ashton Center, which is scheduled to cost $56 million in total. \nSeveral of the newer trustees said despite voting in favor of the proposition they knew little about the Ashton project. \n"I don't know too much about it," said trustee Thomas Reilly Jr. "I don't even know what Ashton looks like."\n
Law School Renovations
\nDuring the meeting. the board also approved a $1.8 million renovation of the law library and the first and second floors of the law school to make the space more functional. \nDean of the School of Law Lauren Robel said the renovations will make room for more classes. \n"We are desperately short of classroom space," she said. \nIn addition. the school will try to upgrade its infrastructure to make it more accessible to bring electronics into classrooms and transfer many of the law journals into digital format to free up space, said John Applegate, law school executive associate dean for academic affairs. \n"It appears that over time there is now a greater need in different areas than before," said trustee William Cast. "Virtual cyberspace is now much more of a priority." \nRobel said the renovations would start this summer and continue for 18 months. \n"This renovation will enable us to meet our students' needs better than the existing space does," Applegate said. \n
IU's scholarship needs
\nAs IU shattered records on its way to securing more than $155 million of scholarship money during the past year, Herbert addressed to the board the necessity of these endowments for both the University and students.\n"IU's vision is not only to provide educational opportunity," Herbert said, "but also to assure our students are able realize their dreams."\nHerbert noted how he recently met with 33 presidential scholars and said they were a source of great pride.\nTrustee Sue Talbot also met with the scholarship recipients during the same reception. \n"As trustees we learn about all the wonderful opportunities with scholarship," she said. "However, we seldom get the chance to know how they get dispersed and how they work with a certain group of students"
