Endless eyesore
The Music Building has been an eyesore on CMU’s campus for nearly two years.
Enough is enough.
The building, which was constructed in 1997, was billed as one of the most intricate and technologically advanced buildings of its era. To further enhance its uniqueness, officials constructed it to resemble a massive piano — a point many tour guides talk about when taking prospective students on tours throughout campus.
But now, on the eve of the Music Building’s 10th anniversary, students don’t see a work of art when the walk through campus. They see a building surrounded by ugly metal scaffolds, more and more of which seem to be erected with each passing day.
The university has even gone as far as to place signs around the building during recruitment days on campus excusing the mess while CMU “continues to improve campus.”
They’re not fooling anyone.
Officials have said the problem lies with discolored and cracked bricks.
But when asked if any progress is being made to fix the building and rid it of some discoloration, no one seems to know any timetable.
And what’s worse? No one seems to know whos is supposed to make the next move.
Steve Lawrence, associate vice president for Facilities Management, said in a Nov. 1 Central Michigan Life story that no repairs can be done on the Music Building until the university hears back from the state Department of Management and Budget about what entity will have to pay for the repairs.
Why it matters
The Music Building still is in disrepair and no one knows when that will change
But when CM Life asked Greg Bird, director of communications for the State Budget Office within the DMB, about the state’s progress in the matter, Bird was oblivious.
“I don’t know if Central has requested a project,” Bird said.
If that truly is the case, someone needs to be held accountable. According to past CM Life stories, the investigation into the cost of the repairs has been ongoing for more than a year. And CMU has spent $10,000 to purchase scaffolds and hire a consulting firm to investigate further.
More than a year is entirely too long if all CMU is dealing with is some discolored bricks. And what’s the point of spending
10 grand if more money will be spent later to fix the bricks later?
Later in the Nov. 1 story, Lawrence, although he declined to comment further on the matter until all parties agree on who will pay for the repairs, he voice his displeasure.
“There’s obviously a problem there,” Lawrence said.
It just doesn’t make sense it would take this long to fix some bricks. But that’s the only problem wrong with the Music Building, according to officials over the past two years.
If that is the only problem, CMU and the state need to come to a decision soon. People need to own up to who is responsible at this phase and make a decision.
Get the ball rolling, because the Music Building is getting uglier and uglier with each passing month.
And more and more people are taking notice.
