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August 23, 2004
Kirk gets a facelift
Heather Cutler
Mesa Legend
As many students know, MCC has undergone some major construction, which began last year, then continued this past summer.
New portables have been added, new directories are located all over campus to help visitors and new students, a bus stop has been added, and the cafeteria is still under construction. But the newest and probably most worthwhile renovation has taken place in the Kirk Center.
Almost every student visits the Kirk Center at least once a day while attending classes at MCC. Whether it is to get a quick bite to eat or to catch up with friends, the Kirk Center has supplied students with a friendly atmosphere for many years.
This year the Kirk Center is completely revamped, thanks to some of the Interior Design majors attending MCC. They took on the project and designed many of the new chairs, paint, and lighting that is seen inside. One of the newer additions is Montague’s Deli, where students can get Subway-quality sandwiches on campus. Directly behind the deli is the familiar favorite called the Thunderbird Café, where more traditional foods like pizza, can be purchased.
One main theme that is noticeable throughout the building is straight from the mind of Greg Reents, the director of student life and leadership. “All throughout the building there are pictures on the walls that show the history of MCC.” Some of these pictures include construction sites of the Dobson and Southern campus when it was first being built, as well as the campus at Red Mountain. One wall is completely dedicated to the past student government presidents of the school, and is updated to this year’s president Alisha D. Bloom.
All the changes that have taken place and are going to take place, however, are just the beginning of what actually may happen if a current bond request gets voted in on the November 2 ballot.
This bond will benefit all ten Maricopa Community Colleges, in an effort to rebuild, refurnish and better each school.
For MCC at Southern and Dobson, it means that the school will receive $60 million, as the campus is expected to grow from 22,500 students to 27,000 students by the year 2012. The money will be used for the construction of four new buildings: science and mathematics, communication and humanities, performing and fine arts, and health and wellness. It will also be put towards the reconstruction of thirty-year-old buildings, upgrading and replacing technology, additional parking for students and staff, and upgrading of security.
The Mesa Community College at Red Mountain is estimated to grow from 3,700 to 10,000 students by the year 2012, and as a result the school will receive $20 million to construct new classroom and laboratory buildings. Ten million dollars will be given to MCC’s downtown campus for the purchase, construction, and remodeling of facilities in downtown Mesa. A portion of the money will also go to the Distance Learning programs to expand on Internet-based learning, and the technology to support it.
All this will only happen if the bond is voted upon favorably on the Nov. 2 ballot. Mesa Community College is starting to improve its campus slowly, but this bond is expected ensure MCC’s future in the quality of education it gives, so long as the money is available to support it.
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