My heart raced a bit when the author mentioned that all bathrooms will be renovated this summer...but then explained that it's the dorm rooms.

Interesting article.

When I was at O.U., were we told that that original plan was to have the aquatic center and ice rink under the building, where the parking is.
But,because Beasley (although they never said his name) pulled out of the deal,they didn't have enough money.

There were all kinds of rumors as to why the deal with him fell through,but nothing concrete.

We were also told that original intent was for the Convo to be used exclusively as an athletes' dorm.

Beasley's kids intervened and threatened to sue the university for taking advantage of their enfeebled father.

No way they planned to put an ice rink UNDER the building - we're talking major flood plain.

I believe the dorm was a late addition to help justify the cost after Beasley money disappeared.

I had a CS class in there in 06-07. I was living there as an RA too so it was nice (except you have to go outside and back in to access it)

Is it just me or does $3.5 million seem like a lot to renovate bathrooms? They better watch some HGTV and figure out how to stretch that budget.

(Montage of Rufus in a hard hat swinging a sledgehammer and accidentally taking out a urinal)


I do wonder if the Posts' renewed vigor in the sports section isn't directly tied to there no longer being a print product. Going exclusively online hasn't helped the content of most for-profit news organizations because they've been downsized and editors have been chopped, but I wonder with a student publication where workforce issues aren't a consideration that not having to worry about producing a print product hasn't opened things up for more and better reporting to be done.

Could also be they just have good people doing the work, too. But I think they've been great this season. Kudos to them.

The red M urinal cakes will be a nice touch, though.

Yes, Hockey was in mind with the floor design, noticeable in the shape of the lower bowl.

Dorms were always in the plans, and classrooms have always existed. There are/were about 30 classrooms on the court level. The Athletic offices only occupy 1/4 of the lower level running from the South entrance to the East entrance. From the east entrance (main entrance) to the north and all the way around to the West entrance is classrooms, restrooms and faculty shower facilities. This space has held engineering, PT and some technology departments. This space has been vacant for several years. The Convo also housed the West Green Maintence Shops that services all of West Green.

It wasn't Bill Rohr that screwed you up, it was President Sowle. Bill Rohr just carried out his orders like a good soldier. I've often summed up Sowle's presidency as making the worst out of a bad situation. He also did away with the architecture school, and tried -- unsuccessfully -- to close the College of Engineering. He also let the Portsmouth branch be transformed into Shawnee State. A strong leader could have prevent all or most of these things. It was a bad time, but was a weak leader, as well as an alcoholic, and things went from bad to worse under his leadership. When Charlie Ping took over, the ship began to be right almost immediately, but it did take some time.

Well, "building" engineering design issue maybe. But you're not really solving an engineering design issue by using fill in the flood plain to raise a building out of the 500' year flood, you're filling the flood plain and pushing more water to your downstream neighbors to deal with. You haven't solved the problem of flooding, you've just passed it on and made it worse.

Actually,no.

My post only dealt the fact that you can put a building in Flood Zone,without it flooding.

I didn't want to bore people with the "mechanics" of doing this.

But,since you brought it up.

Building in Flood Zone,when done properly, will not adversely impact downstream properties.In fact it will actually make their situation better.

I can only speak about New Jersey.

In what are known as Fluvial (non tidal) Flood Zones, we have what is known as "Zero Net Fill".

That means that,for every cubic yard of fill we place in a Flood Zone for a building,parking lot etc.,we have to remove an equal volume of material.

Its called a "Net Fill Compensation Area",the design of which must be approved by the State.

In addition to "Zero Net Fill",we also have to provide a drainage system that reduces,by up to 50% ,the volume of existing runoff.
Again, the design of this has to be approved by the State

So,from a runoff volume perspective,a project like this not only doesn't make flooding worse for people downstream,it makes it better.

For projects that are 1 acre or more,the design must include a Water Quality System.
This system has to remove 80% of the "Total Suspended Solids" from surface runoff.
So,not only is there less runoff,its cleaner.

We also,depending on soil conditions, put some of the runoff back into the ground,to recharge aquifers.

We must also prepare an "Operation and Maintenance Manual".
The Operation and Maintenance Manual must be approved by the engineer for the town where the site is located.
The Manual must have signed log sheets confirming that the system is maintained.
The signed sheets must be kept on site and are reviewed by the Municipality.

So, please provide historical proof of your opinion, because I can provide proposed and passed legislation and facts to discredit your revisionist history. And you really believe the President of the University could stand up to that political pressure of the man who held the purse strings? Please!