Editorial: There has to be a better way

Illustration by Andy Duong

Progress is a positive thing. Normally.

But with the start of construction on Mariposa Hall comes a problem. Students are once again facing the disruption of their academic careers due to an important, but untimely construction project.

Soon after the incessant noise from the construction of the Guy West Bridge Plaza finally went away, comes a whole new choir of construction with the Mariposa Hall project.

The construction noise of pile drivers, steam rollers and bulldozers are just a few of the many pieces of equipment that will be clashing with classes and causing headaches in the heavily used classroom buildings surrounding the site for at least 16 months.

Other problems include the loss of many handicapped parking spaces near the center of campus for a construction loading zone, and pedestrian traffic jams at constricted sidewalks blocked with fences.

Solutions must be developed. Perhaps more construction should occur in the early morning or evening when fewer classes are in session. Maybe work could be done on the weekend when campus is less congested.

Although the entire campus community will benefit from the dozens of new classrooms, offices, and computer labs that Mariposa Hall will provide, there must be a better way to deal with the hassles of its lengthy construction.