President Announces $32M Expansion Mercyhurst College President Dr
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’Hur$t’s future President announces $32M expansion Mercyhurst College President Dr. Thomas Gamble (left) announced plans on Monday that will take the school into the next fi ve years. Among his ideas are a new 318-room residence hall and a new academic building to house the school’s intelligence program and business department. Both buildings are planned for construction within the next year. The initiative also calls for recruitment of faculty with the help of newly appointed provost Dr. James Adovasio. The project will push the college into a $55 million debt. | Joshua Wilwohl reports on page 3 PAGE 2 NEWS March 12, 2008 Arming police By Joshua& Wilwohl safety Editor-in-chief 3-part safety series Former Northern Illinois This week: Police University graduate student Steven Kazmierczak shot Fuhrman said once four to assist in securing the scene dead fi ve students in less than units were on scene of the but would be hesitant in sending two minutes on Feb. 14 in the incident, they would not need to in his offi cers unarmed. university’s Cole Hall. It took wait for the special weapons and “Our offi cers, as it is now, campus police under 30 seconds tactics team and would move in are told if there is an armed to respond. on a subject. individual, they should do what If an incident such as a “The fi rst four responding they can,” he said. “But they shooter were to occur on the offi cers proceed to where the should not put themselves Mercyhurst College campus, shooter is and we will move on in a position where they are the school’s police and safety them,” he said. “For example, in danger of being seriously offi cers would have nothing to if we get a call of ‘shots fi red injured or killed.” protect themselves with since in Old Main,’ we will move to Mercyhurst is the only they do not carry fi rearms, said where the gun shots are being college in the Erie area whose Rodger Gregorich, Mercyhurst’s fi red.” offi cers are not armed. police and safety director. He said, however, Erie police Gregorich said his offi cers Erie Bureau of Police would rely on campus police and would help secure the scene, but Captain D.J. Fuhrman said if safety during the incident. Erie police would take control such an incident would occur at “We would work with safety of the area. Mercyhurst College, it would take offi cers because they have “Once a confi rmed call minutes for offi cer response. knowledge of the buildings,” he is reported, the dispatcher “If we had an active shooter said. would inform all personnel and on campus …the fi rst unit Gregorich said if a call of an immediately call Erie police,” he would be no more than fi ve active shooter came through his said. minutes,” he said. offi ce, he would call all offi cers Please see School on Page 6 PAGE 2 NEWS March 12, 2008 March 12, 2008 NEWS PAGE 3 College plans $32M expansion By Joshua Wilwohl Editor-in-chief More buildings, more faculty and more students is the drive behind Mercyhurst College’s new Arming $32 million expansion plan. It will also mean more debt. Dr. Thomas Gamble, the college’s president, announced Monday the school’s strategic initiative for the next fi ve years. “This plan is about Mercyhurst students,” he said. “It’s about the growth and excellence of the police college.” Gamble outlined his proposal to more than 150 faculty mem- bers, administrators and students in the Mary D’Angelo Perform- ing Arts Center. He said the price tag of $32 Contributed photo million comprises $25 million The new residence hall will be located east of Tullio Field on the Mercyhurst College Erie campus. It is a 318-room structure from a bond issue, while the that will cost $14 million. remaining $7 million will come By Joshua& Wilwohl safety from donations, such as those another residence hall.” nounced plans by saying the con- plan include recruiting top-notch O’Dell said the addition of Editor-in-chief 3-part safety series made by the board of trustees. Construction for the residence struction of new buildings on the faculty with the help of newly new buildings will help relieve The $25 million, according to hall will start in June, according Erie campus is not needed. appointed provost Dr. James the stress caused by the lack of Former Northern Illinois This week: Police Gamble, will push the school’s to the college’s Associate Vice “If they are using money to Adovasio. classroom and residential space. University graduate student debt close to $55 million. He said President of Administration take nice housing down, why “(Adovasio will) work with the “We need more physical Steven Kazmierczak shot Fuhrman said once four to assist in securing the scene the school’s current long-term Tyrone Moore. not invest it into fi xing up the leadership of the faculty senate space,” said O’Dell. “We are dead fi ve students in less than units were on scene of the but would be hesitant in sending debt is around $30 million. Warde townhouses will be de- older housing,” said junior Jenna to make substantial progress in maxed out right now and need to two minutes on Feb. 14 in the incident, they would not need to in his offi cers unarmed. Gamble said the college plans molished to make way for the new Barone. “We spend two to three the quality of faculty work life concentrate on growing.” university’s Cole Hall. It took wait for the special weapons and “Our offi cers, as it is now, to pay back the debt annually over academic building, which will be years in the apartments and only with an eye toward improving Gamble said his plan is to campus police under 30 seconds tactics team and would move in are told if there is an armed a 25-year period with the school’s located west of the bookstore. one in the dorms.” the opportunities available to provide the best education pos- to respond. on a subject. individual, they should do what $100 million-a-year revenue. Gamble said there are open Sophomore Jen Mihu shares them for excellent teaching and sible to Mercyhurst students. If an incident such as a “The fi rst four responding they can,” he said. “But they He said the plan calls for con- upperclassman apartments that Barone’s opinion. advising, to remain in active “We’re more expensive than shooter were to occur on the offi cers proceed to where the should not put themselves struction of a 318-room, $14 will make up for the space lost “It is not necessary to spend and fruitful dialogue with their most public schools, so in order Mercyhurst College campus, shooter is and we will move on in a position where they are million residence hall and a $10 by the Warde townhouses. that much money on stuff we disciplines, for high quality fac- to provide the premium for the school’s police and safety them,” he said. “For example, in danger of being seriously to $12 million academic building “There is still space available don’t need. They just renovated ulty-student relationships and for students to pay, we must pro- offi cers would have nothing to if we get a call of ‘shots fi red injured or killed.” that will house the intelligence in Briggs Avenue apartments the suites,” she said. “We don’t student research,” Gamble said vide more than an education,” protect themselves with since in Old Main,’ we will move to Mercyhurst is the only program and business school on and the new residence hall will need huge projects that raise during his speech. he said. they do not carry fi rearms, said where the gun shots are being college in the Erie area whose the Erie campus. provide additional housing as tuition and put the school further Mercyhurst faculty member Gamble emphasized that this Rodger Gregorich, Mercyhurst’s fi red.” offi cers are not armed. “We want to move into com- well,” he said. into debt.” Dr. Richard O’Dell, a professor plan is Mercyhurst’s most ambi- police and safety director. He said, however, Erie police Gregorich said his offi cers petitive intelligence for business Gamble also said freshmen Mercyhurst North East, ac- of education, said this project tious project in its history and Erie Bureau of Police would rely on campus police and would help secure the scene, but and the ability to provide the and upperclassmen could be liv- cording to Gamble, will see is one that could launch Mercy- said he hopes to see an increase Captain D.J. Fuhrman said if safety during the incident. Erie police would take control good reputation of the intel- ing together in the new residence $500,000 in renovations to the hurst into another division of in students on the campuses. such an incident would occur at “We would work with safety of the area. ligence program,” he said. building. First National Bank building, learning. “I see this as being a school Mercyhurst College, it would take offi cers because they have “Once a confi rmed call The location of the residence “There are no real plans laid purchased by the school in 2006. “This has been in the plans for of 5,000 kids,” he said. “Erie minutes for offi cer response. knowledge of the buildings,” he is reported, the dispatcher hall will be east of Tullio Field.