The Concordian

Media Credit: Svilen Trifonov [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Svilen Trifonov [Click to enlarge]

Last year the university bought nearly a dozen trailers, originally designed for use in the hurricane Katrina relief. Although the administration had ideas about them, the trailers are still sitting unused in the parking lot by the baseball and football fields.

In addition to being an eye-sore, they also take up valuable parking spaces. Ever since their purchase, students were unhappy with the administrators’ decision. A lot of questions were asked with unclear answers. Last semester, Concordian writer, Kiwa Nadas, wrote an article about the trailers where she addressed most of the issues. Six months later, nothing has been done, and the trailers still sit unoccupied.

Dr. Charles Becker, Vice President for Business and Finance at Concord University, was kind enough to explain the current situation and the future plans for the trailers.

“Currently the severe weather and the construction of University Point are stopping us from placing and putting into operation the trailers,” Becker said.

University Point was scheduled for completion in January 2010, but because of the weather the date is now pushed back to possibly April-May. The problem is that the construction crews are taking up the space designated for some of the trailers. In addition, the university administrators are looking into the maps to locate the boundaries of the land owned by Concord. Once the weather warms up, the trailers can finally be put in place.

As far as their function, there are several potential uses for them. Several of them can be used as additional housing facilities for overflowing campus population. Other trailers will be used for offices and general storage space. Nevertheless, students are still questioning whether these trailers would be of any benefit to the university.

“It was considered a good decision at the time of the purchase,” said Dr. Becker. “Each of the trailers only cost around one thousand dollars, and we saw it as a good opportunity.”

While certainly a good bargain, 900 square feet of office space for just ten thousand dollars, the trailers are not exactly the prettiest things on campus. This could possibly have a negative effect on the image of Concord University, “The Campus Beautiful.”

“We have taken this into consideration and we have found locations on campus where the trailers will not look out of place,” said Dr. Becker.

With the snowstorms coming on a weekly basis, it is not certain when administrators can begin putting the trailers into operation.

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