Several projects on campus have been discussed in recent weeks, including a new events center, a major renovation of Ronan Hall, a 400-bed addition to Woldt Hall and a new satellite energy facility. However, CMU is facing a $7.3 million budget shortfall in 2004-05.

The Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group will present their budget recommendations to University President Michael Rao early next week, said Provost and Executive Vice President Tom Storch at Tuesday’s A-Senate meeting.

The events center was a major topic of discussion among many senators who felt its extravagance was unnecessary.

“Why would I add a pool to my house if I could not afford to eat?” said Angela Haddad, sociology, anthropology and social work assistant professor.

A-Senate Chairman Bob Lee, human environmental studies professor, presented a booklet of information about the events center which outlined the uses and need for it as well as finished designs from all angles.

“I just wonder where our priorities are,” Lee said.

The booklet came as a shock to many senators. Even Rao admitted he had not seen such detailed plans yet and commented on Athletics Director Herb Deromedi going “full steam ahead” with the project.

“He’s already raised a couple hundred thousand dollars,” Rao said. “But right now we have other priorities.”

Rao said despite the loss of funding, renovating Ronan Hall remains a priority. He said as soon as the state provides 75 percent of the funding, construction will begin.

“It’s a priority because of its limited capacity and deplorable conditions,” Rao said.

Some have argued no more buildings can be built until the energy crisis is resolved. The energy plant is running at between 93 and 98 percent capacity, according to the latest estimates.

Rao said renovating Ronan would not use more energy, but the issue of an $18.5 million satellite energy plant will be looked at soon, hopefully before summer begins.

“The Ronan upgrades will include putting in insulation and double-pane windows and fixing places where energy is being wasted,” he said. “But we must address this energy issue before anything else.”

The additions to Woldt Hall were first introduced at the March 4 Board of Trustees meeting. Rao said these are not a drain on the budget because residence halls bring in money.

The project, if approved by the board, would be completed by Fall 2006 and would be built in the space just west of Woldt Hall. The Woldt Residential Restaurant would be renovated as well.

“With scholarship students having to stay on campus for two years and other freshmen having to stay until they’ve reached 30 credit hours, we don’t have enough room for them,” Rao said.

The board also approved installation of new turf for the football field. The issue of the field hockey team not being able to play on the new surface was brought up at the A-Senate meeting.

The new, synthetic turfs use a longer grass, making it impossible for the field hockey team to use it since its sport requires very short grass, Rao said.

He mentioned Deromedi’s request for a new field hockey field, which was met with laughter from some A-Senate members.

“I told Herb we don’t have the money for it,” Rao said.