Work Set To Start On Center

Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles said yesterday that plans for a proposed humanities center will be implemented immediately, even though the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) does not yet have all the funds.

The Kresge Foundation has pledged a $2 million grant to support the renovation and transformation of the Freshman Union into a humanities center. But the grant is contingent upon the University raising an additional $8 million in grants for the center by February 1, 1997.

"What the Kresge Foundation did was to make a catalytic gift," Knowles said in an interview yesterday. "It will catalyze alumni, friends and others to say, 'Yes, they're doing it."

Knowles said he was confident that the FAS would be able to raise the money in the next 14 months.

He emphasized that it is not necessary for the FAS to have all the money in hand for the project when construction starts. In addition, construction will not be completed until after the Kresge Foundation's deadline.

"Of course, for any project, one doesn't have to have all the money on day one," Knowles said. "Since construction will not end until probably May of 1997, the [payment of] bills will be phased."

The humanities center will be based in the renovated Freshman Union and Burr Hall. The complex will house 12 humanities departments whose offices are currently spread out across the campus.

In preparation for the construction project, the History and Literature program has moved out of their offices in Burr Hall to Vanserg Hall.

First-years will begin to take their meals in the newly renovated Annenberg Hall next month.

Knowles also said he was pleased that the full Faculty voted on Tuesday to upgrade the Committee on Public Service to a standing committee.

The Faculty also considered a different charge for the committee, written by members of the Undergraduate Council, that would have given Undergraduate Council members the right to choose student members of the committee, among other changes.

Faculty members voted to upgrade the committee for the sake of expediency, but added a caveat that the language proposed would be subject to further consideration.

Knowles said that it is indeed possible that the amendment could be reconsidered by the Faculty Council.

"If it is thought appropriate, of course the charge can be modified," Knowles said. "That will now have the benefit of coming out of Faculty Council."  --Valerie J. MacMillan and Douglas M. Pravda contributed to this article.

Knowles also said he was pleased that the full Faculty voted on Tuesday to upgrade the Committee on Public Service to a standing committee.

The Faculty also considered a different charge for the committee, written by members of the Undergraduate Council, that would have given Undergraduate Council members the right to choose student members of the committee, among other changes.

Faculty members voted to upgrade the committee for the sake of expediency, but added a caveat that the language proposed would be subject to further consideration.

Knowles said that it is indeed possible that the amendment could be reconsidered by the Faculty Council.

"If it is thought appropriate, of course the charge can be modified," Knowles said. "That will now have the benefit of coming out of Faculty Council."  --Valerie J. MacMillan and Douglas M. Pravda contributed to this article.