Al Gets A Facelift

[wojosdojo]

Well, I've visited several college campuses over the past year with my son, and other schools seem to be investing pretty heavily in rec centers.  It's an arms race of sorts.  Apparently, they think that there is some good reason to spend that money, even if they don't directly generate millions of dollars of revenue.

Honestly, I'm amazed when I visit campuses and see the dorms and rec centers, and then I realize that Marquette hasn't built a new dorm or rec center since I was there in the late 80s/early 90s.  Marquette is a great school, but some of the facilities have fallen well behind other comparable schools.

YES! I have many friends who say that they liked Marquette (when visiting) but the facilities are far behind other schools that they looked at. Am I crazy to think MU has plenty of money to improve their facilities, but just value other things? Is Lovell on this? Does he care? I heard McCormick is the next project (knock down). Am I crazy to think that new dorms and a nice rec plex on campus is a huge asset to have?

Actually interested in what y'all think.

[GGGG]

I think Marquette had a lot of needs and has invested in their academic buildings first and foremost.  New law school, engineering, dental.  Those are high revenue areas, and that was was probably driving their thinking.

While there are still obvious need in the academic areas, the sciences in particular, I am sure that they fully understand how behind the curve they are in some of the non-academic areas and will be looking at those.

[Galway Eagle]

YES! I have many friends who say that they liked Marquette (when visiting) but the facilities are far behind other schools that they looked at. Am I crazy to think MU has plenty of money to improve their facilities, but just value other things? Is Lovell on this? Does he care? I heard McCormick is the next project (knock down). Am I crazy to think that new dorms and a nice rec plex on campus is a huge asset to have?

Actually interested in what y'all think.

Alumni association would sh*t a brick if they tear down Mckormick.  In fact I heard they tried once and that's what happened.  A tear down of OD would be better or at least complete gut of the interior.  

[GGGG]

???  Why would the Alumni Association care about McCormick?  And why would that prevent the University from doing it anyway?

[StillAWarrior]

YES! I have many friends who say that they liked Marquette (when visiting) but the facilities are far behind other schools that they looked at. Am I crazy to think MU has plenty of money to improve their facilities, but just value other things? Is Lovell on this? Does he care? I heard McCormick is the next project (knock down). Am I crazy to think that new dorms and a nice rec plex on campus is a huge asset to have?

Actually interested in what y'all think.

I agree that some new dorms and a nice rec center would be nice assets on campus (despite the fact that they might not directly generate any revenue).  I'm not sure I agree that Marquette "has plenty of money" for such projects.  I simply don't know whether that is true or not.  These are big ticket items.

We have a friend who visited, and I specifically asked about the dorms.  He said they were not nearly as nice as most other schools they had visited.  That said, his son was favorably impressed with Marquette overall, so perhaps it's not that big of an issue.  I realize that I'm judging the Marquette dorms unfairly based upon how they were when I was there.  I imagine there have been updates/upgrades in all of them including nicer lobbies and less "institutional" dining halls, but there are surprisingly few pictures online.  These are areas where most of the dorms we've visited distinguish themselves from what I remember of Marquette.  The rooms themselves aren't all that nice wherever we go (but few are as bad as McCormick).  But unless there have been massive changes at the rec center (which is certainly possible), it's way behind many that I've been seeing.  And honestly, this is something that my son looks at even more than the dorms.

[Galway Eagle]

???  Why would the Alumni Association care about McCormick?  And why would that prevent the University from doing it anyway?

Man I worked at Phonathon and you'd be surprised the stuff that people use as a reason not to donate and when you get a place as full of memories as Mckormick the alumni association (or even just a large enough group of alumni) could stop donations.  I mean yall still complain about the Warriors change and that was just a name 20 years ago, yall still complain about missing blows, hags, the lanch etc think about tearing down the dorm that people fight over to get into their freshman years that's known as the beer can and is one of the MU icons.  

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Am I crazy to think MU has plenty of money to improve their facilities, but just value other things?

Am I crazy to think that new dorms and a nice rec plex on campus is a huge asset to have?

You're crazy.

I know capital investments are sexy, but I'm more concerned about the tuition growth, sustainability of that growth, and the ROI on a degree.

[GGGG]

Man I worked at Phonathon and you'd be surprised the stuff that people use as a reason not to donate and when you get a place as full of memories as Mckormick the alumni association (or even just a large enough group of alumni) could stop donations.  I mean yall still complain about the Warriors change and that was just a name 20 years ago, yall still complain about missing blows, hags, the lanch etc think about tearing down the dorm that people fight over to get into their freshman years that's known as the beer can and is one of the MU icons. 

Yeah alumni say they are going to do a lot of things.  But my general perception is that there would not be a lot of outrage at all if McCormick comes down, and would not lead to a great deal of withheld donations.

[TedBaxter]

I agree that some new dorms and a nice rec center would be nice assets on campus (despite the fact that they might not directly generate any revenue).  I'm not sure I agree that Marquette "has plenty of money" for such projects.  I simply don't know whether that is true or not.  These are big ticket items.

We have a friend who visited, and I specifically asked about the dorms.  He said they were not nearly as nice as most other schools they had visited.  That said, his son was favorably impressed with Marquette overall, so perhaps it's not that big of an issue.  I realize that I'm judging the Marquette dorms unfairly based upon how they were when I was there.  I imagine there have been updates/upgrades in all of them including nicer lobbies and less "institutional" dining halls, but there are surprisingly few pictures online.  These are areas where most of the dorms we've visited distinguish themselves from what I remember of Marquette.  The rooms themselves aren't all that nice wherever we go (but few are as bad as McCormick).  But unless there have been massive changes at the rec center (which is certainly possible), it's way behind many that I've been seeing.  And honestly, this is something that my son looks at even more than the dorms.

Dorms are a huge deal for colleges and universities now.  With computer availability, students spend more time in their dorms than ever before and Marquette has to start to upgrade to compete.  Suited dorms are a need and if you look at some of the UW system school master planning, new dorms and dorm upgrades are the top priorities and adding food service to these dorms are a big advantage as well.

Being a non-alum and looking at things from that viewpoint, I'd say dorm upgrades are maybe the most important item for Marquette right now, IMHO.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Well, I've visited several college campuses over the past year with my son, and other schools seem to be investing pretty heavily in rec centers.  It's an arms race of sorts.  Apparently, they think that there is some good reason to spend that money, even if they don't directly generate millions of dollars of revenue.

Honestly, I'm amazed when I visit campuses and see the dorms and rec centers, and then I realize that Marquette hasn't built a new dorm or rec center since I was there in the late 80s/early 90s.  Marquette is a great school, but some of the facilities have fallen well behind other comparable schools.

+1 I guess we need a new Jes Res for the 6 (or whatever) total Jesuits in the city of Milwaukee before we update our 100 year old dorms (I'm thinking Tower).

[Galway Eagle]

Yeah alumni say they are going to do a lot of things.  But my general perception is that there would not be a lot of outrage at all if McCormick comes down, and would not lead to a great deal of withheld donations.

I know we had an actual auto response at Phonathon for people who said they wouldn't donatae because of the name change and another who said no because we sold the medical school, another for dropping the dental hygiene school.  I mean people are sensitive to weird stuff.  I wouldn't be surprised if tearing down that dorm (more so than any other except maybe Schroeder) would rile up a lot of people.

[warriorchick]

Man I worked at Phonathon and you'd be surprised the stuff that people use as a reason not to donate and when you get a place as full of memories as Mckormick the alumni association (or even just a large enough group of alumni) could stop donations.  I mean yall still complain about the Warriors change and that was just a name 20 years ago, yall still complain about missing blows, hags, the lanch etc think about tearing down the dorm that people fight over to get into their freshman years that's known as the beer can and is one of the MU icons.  

Even folks that have fond memories of McCormick agree that it is a crappy facility, and would want their own kids to live in some place that's nicer.

It's all about the cash.  The University has its own priorities in terms of building on campus, but if someone wrote a check today for new dorm or fitness center, there would be shovels in the ground by the end of the school year.

[warriorchick]

I know we had an actual auto response at Phonathon for people who said they wouldn't donatae because of the name change and another who said no because we sold the medical school, another for dropping the dental hygiene school.  I mean people are sensitive to weird stuff.  I wouldn't be surprised if tearing down that dorm (more so than any other except maybe Schroeder) would rile up a lot of people.

If the university only made decisions that it knew would piss off zero alumni, the campus would be the same as it was in 1885.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

I think Marquette had a lot of needs and has invested in their academic buildings first and foremost.  New law school, engineering, dental.  Those are high revenue areas, and that was was probably driving their thinking.

While there are still obvious need in the academic areas, the sciences in particular, I am sure that they fully understand how behind the curve they are in some of the non-academic areas and will be looking at those.

The business school is an embarrassment as well. If the school is looking for a money maker, I would look there before a lot of others.

[StillAWarrior]

Even folks that have fond memories of McCormick agree that it is a crappy facility, and would want their own kids to live in some place that's nicer.

I have fond memories of McCormick.  I think it's a dump.  I'm astounded that people "fight" to get into McCormick.  I have no specific knowledge of the situation, but I have to think that this is related to the location, the fact that it's co-ed, and because it has its own dining hall -- not the dorm itself.  I suspect that if there was  a new co-ed freshman dorm in a good location (e.g., across from Schroeder) with a dining hall, people would be fighting to avoid McCormick.

[Galway Eagle]

I think the wehr buildings and lalumiere (forgot how to spell both these) need to be addressed those are nasty looking buildings that are eye sores.  

I have fond memories of McCormick.  I think it's a dump.  I'm astounded that people "fight" to get into McCormick.  I have no specific knowledge of the situation, but I have to think that this is related to the location, the fact that it's co-ed, and because it has its own dining hall -- not the dorm itself.  I suspect that if there was  a new co-ed freshman dorm in a good location (e.g., across from Schroeder) with a dining hall, people would be fighting to avoid McCormick.

As probably one of the younger non student posters here I can say I remember it because my tour guide said if I'm interested in partying mckormicks where to go. 

[warriorchick]

The business school is an embarrassment as well. If the school is looking for a money maker, I would look there before a lot of others.

Per President Lovell's AMA on Reddit, it is at the top of the priority list.  Too bad all the Bus Ad alumni are too pissed off about the Lanche closing down to donate any money.

[warriorchick]

I think the wehr buildings and lalumiere (forgot how to spell both these) need to be addressed those are nasty looking buildings that are eye sores.  

As probably one of the younger non student posters here I can say I remember it because my tour guide said if I'm interested in partying mckormicks where to go. 

Lalumiere is considered architecturally distinctive and isn't going anywhere.  The Wehr buildings are dated-looking aesthetically (and the same design as every other college building in the U.S. that was put up between 1955 and 1972), but they are perfectly functional as classroom buildings. 

[Galway Eagle]

Lalumiere is considered architecturally distinctive and isn't going anywhere.  The Wehr buildings are dated-looking aesthetically (and the same design as every other college building in the U.S. that was put up between 1955 and 1972), but they are perfectly functional as classroom buildings. 

It's such an eye sore though. I mean at least paint it or something

[GGGG]

Lalumiere is considered architecturally distinctive and isn't going anywhere.  The Wehr buildings are dated-looking aesthetically (and the same design as every other college building in the U.S. that was put up between 1955 and 1972), but they are perfectly functional as classroom buildings.

Lalumiere is a functional classroom building for the humanities and social sciences.  Probably the last building on any college campus that needs to be replaced.

The Wehrs are great as a classroom building.  But are the labs up to date?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Lalumiere is considered architecturally distinctive and isn't going anywhere.  The Wehr buildings are dated-looking aesthetically (and the same design as every other college building in the U.S. that was put up between 1955 and 1972), but they are perfectly functional as classroom buildings. 

I dunno about the Wehr buildings. They're pretty crummy on the inside too. Especially the labs. If you wanna look at a great building on the inside but meh on the outside go to Cramer. The exercise phys, PT aND psychology labs are all wonderfully renovated or new. That the model MU should go for.

[GGGG]

I dunno about the Wehr buildings. They're pretty crummy on the inside too. Especially the labs. If you wanna look at a great building on the inside but meh on the outside go to Cramer. The exercise phys, PT aND psychology labs are all wonderfully renovated or new. That the model MU should go for.

I just wonder how much Marquette feels that the sciences are part of its target audience.  Upgrading facilities for law, dental and engineering, and planning upgrades for business, make a great deal of sense.  Laboratory upgrades are real expensive though.  And is MU going to pour a bunch of money into those programs if they don't have a great deal of physics, chemistry and biology majors?  Maybe just laboratory upgrades versus something completely new?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I just wonder how much Marquette feels that the sciences are part of its target audience.  Upgrading facilities for law, dental and engineering, and planning upgrades for business, make a great deal of sense.  Laboratory upgrades are real expensive though.  And is MU going to pour a bunch of money into those programs if they don't have a great deal of physics, chemistry and biology majors?  Maybe just laboratory upgrades versus something completely new?

I mean the labs need to be addressed one way or another and MU doesn't mind spending money on the sciences. There are a ton of biomed majors and MU has spent major money on PT and exercise phys in recent years. They're a top 15 in the nation PT school.

[MUMountin]

I never heard that, but I suppose it could be true.  I don't think Buzz was all about traditional* recruiting concepts like high class facilities, he lived on the quirk recruiting methodologies.  Also think you might be right, not because he wanted it for recruits but because it showed he was in charge.

*this is meant as the literal definition of the word, not the Chico's meme use of the word.

Back to the original topic...

My guess is that Buzz was pretty impressed with the Al when he first came here (only a few years after it was built) relative to his previous experiences, and then he probably got a little used to it as it aged around him.

Wojo, on the other hand, comes in with (1) a fresh set of eyes that (2) are used to the trappings at one of the richest programs in the country.  Those two pieces combined let him see the relative need for updates and gave him the vision of things to change based on, I'm sure, how things are set up at Duke.  Its one of those situations that I think his background will be great--even if Al becomes a copycat of some the Duke facilities.  

It just shows the difference between bringing in an assistant fresh from one of the top programs in the country as opposed to Buzz's pull-myself-up-by-own-bootstraps background.  I like to see that Wojo hit the ground running on this stuff--gives me a sense that he has a distinct vision about what he wants done with the program.

[StillAWarrior]

Are there any Title IX implications from this?  Does the women's team have a comparable locker room with leather chairs, blue and gold mood lighting and a 90" TV?