Yesterday was the first day of my staycation and I used it to take care of some errands as well as do some tasks that have been on my to do list for quite some time. Two of these tasks definitely warranted retelling here on the blog. We’ll do the positive first and then the negative.
In July I uploaded an entry about how the new Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) was almost completed at Monmouth University. Since I was on campus yesterday doing some last minute paperwork before the new semester starts, I stopped by the new MAC building and it is really amazing. First of all, the building is gigantic – much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. Part of this visual illusion is due to a portion of the building being located behind the existing Boylan Gymnasium. However, once you are inside of the building you’re able to walk around the entire perimeter (which I did not do, but was told so by a fellow employee).
The new bookstore is very nice and if I’m not mistaken it looks like there are now runners to grab the students’ books. That’s what a lot of the bigger bookstores at the bigger campuses have been doing for a while and it’s nice to see Monmouth making that improvement to their system. I walked down to the new fitness center and it was very impressive. For those of you who live in the area – the floor space in the new fitness center is comparable to the first floor space of the workout area in the Gold’s Gym on the beach in Long Branch. The walls are all still white and bare, but I’m sure that they have some plan to doll the place up a bit.
Outside of the MAC building is a different story, though. A gigantic portion of the commuter lot is in the process of being paved over, so I hope that the paving is complete in time for the Freshman and upper class move-ins. If not, it could get pretty messy…
All in all, I was very impressed with the new MAC building. The introduction of this building along with the still relatively new Plangere Center and McAllen Hall position Monmouth, I think, with a much more academic and student-friendly atmosphere than it has been in the past.
I sort of laugh to myself when I read about all the great things about the new multi-purpose building at Monmouth U. Really now with an enrollment in excess of 6,000
is this facil;ity really that impressive especially in relation to other indoor athletic facilities
in other colleges , universities and yes plain old private secondary schools.
Let’s take a look at the three top private boarding schools in the state which all total
have an enrollment less than 1/3 rd that of Monmouth University yet have
athletic facilities far , far beyond that of Monmouth University. I know at the Peddie
School just renovating their Athletic Center will cost $38,000,000.00. As for
Lawrenceville and Blair they probably have double the number of athletic selections.
I am certain you could find many, many colleges and universities with a smaller
enrollment yet with far superior athletic facilities. The fact of the matter is that while Monmouth has come a long way since 1933 and 1956 it still laks far behind
most private universities. My one daughter just graduated from Eckerd college in Florida
( FOUNDED IN 1958 ) and they currently have an 80,000,000,00 building
campaign which is almost complete. I know Jules Phalgere has been generous
but he just doesn’t even begin to compare with the philantopists at other
colleges, universities and private secondary schools. While great progress has
been made Monmouth has a long, long way to go with it’s endowment and also
with it’s percentage of alums who make annual contributions. This is one area
where Monmouth is at the bottom of the barrel and I mean bottom and yet
that problem doesn’t seem to be given much recognition.
In conclusion – A once pathetic institution that’s come a long way but still has a long, long way to go and shouldn’t be so excited about things that are pretty much common in institutions it’s size.
Robert – You seem to have issues with Monmouth University in excess of the MAC.
To one of your points – one of the reasons why I don’t donate to MU is because of the outrageous tuition that I paid as an undergraduate. I graduated from MU years ago and I’ve still got $99,900 in student loan debt (unfortunately, not everyone has rich relatives that pay for the education). What money I DO donate goes to causes that I care about – my fraternity, the Monmouth SPCA, and my Church. MU isn’t too high up on my list of causes.
The MAC, though, is a big accomplishment for the university. The football field, on the other hand, is a complete joke. My high school football team played in a stadium with more seats and a better atmosphere. How does a college football team only have one set of bleachers? Good grief!
Thanks for the comment.