2008 Woodie Awards
Department flooring gets change
Jaime Brosch
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: News
Central students who venture into the communication offices will probably notice some changes.
The communication department received new carpet for the first time in nearly 20 years. Replacing the dingy carpet that previously covered the office floors is a bright, royal blue flooring. The carpet installers began work in the offices Jan. 17.
"The carpet was really bad," said Dana Stephens, office professional. "The seams were all coming up, and it was getting really worn."
Stephens requested the new carpet in October 2004. Central's Priority Setting Subcommittee met Oct. 21, 2004 to approve the funding for the project from the maintenance and repair budget.
Stephens said, along with the new carpet, there will be a new main office counter installed and stained to match the desks. In addition, she said she hopes to have new chairs put into the main office.
"When I got here, I wanted [the department] to look better," Stephens said.
Faculty members were given one hour to move out of their offices the first day. They were each given several boxes in which to put their belongings. The boxes were stacked along walls outside the offices so the carpet could be installed.
Communication professor Carol Benton said the move out of her office was an opportunity rather than an inconvenience.
"This just forces us to purge the junk we don't need," Benton said. "I still have things left from my Ph.D. program that are probably somewhat outdated now."
Benton's office was re-carpeted Thursday. She said she thought she would have ample time to move, but the crew worked much faster than she expected. By the end of the first day they had already completed four offices, and they kept that pace for the duration of the project.
"It's been fine," Benton said. "The guys have been wonderful. I think new carpet will freshen up the whole place. It is definitely long overdue. I don't think it will show a lot of dirt or anything."
Benton said the timing for the new carpet was just right. Had they installed it over break, faculty and staff members would have had to come in during their time off. She said it was also good to handle the situation so early in the semester, because faculty members would probably have greater difficulty moving later when their schedules are more hectic with assignments and tests.
Terry Cunconan, department chair, said the department is appreciative of the new carpet.
"This is really great," Cunconan said. "We do really need it. The snags and seams were becoming a problem."
He said there had not been much attention given to the carpet in the past because there were always other issues to focus on.
"If the choice were between getting new equipment for the faculty and students and getting new carpet," Cunconan said, "of course, the new equipment would be our priority."
Cunconan said the biggest problem with the remodeling was finding storage for all of the materials in the offices. He said it was "logistically difficult" for faculty members to remove their possessions from the offices and replace them in an orderly way.
Cunconan said this issue was a minor setback and well worth the final result.
The communication department received new carpet for the first time in nearly 20 years. Replacing the dingy carpet that previously covered the office floors is a bright, royal blue flooring. The carpet installers began work in the offices Jan. 17.
"The carpet was really bad," said Dana Stephens, office professional. "The seams were all coming up, and it was getting really worn."
Stephens requested the new carpet in October 2004. Central's Priority Setting Subcommittee met Oct. 21, 2004 to approve the funding for the project from the maintenance and repair budget.
Stephens said, along with the new carpet, there will be a new main office counter installed and stained to match the desks. In addition, she said she hopes to have new chairs put into the main office.
"When I got here, I wanted [the department] to look better," Stephens said.
Faculty members were given one hour to move out of their offices the first day. They were each given several boxes in which to put their belongings. The boxes were stacked along walls outside the offices so the carpet could be installed.
Communication professor Carol Benton said the move out of her office was an opportunity rather than an inconvenience.
"This just forces us to purge the junk we don't need," Benton said. "I still have things left from my Ph.D. program that are probably somewhat outdated now."
Benton's office was re-carpeted Thursday. She said she thought she would have ample time to move, but the crew worked much faster than she expected. By the end of the first day they had already completed four offices, and they kept that pace for the duration of the project.
"It's been fine," Benton said. "The guys have been wonderful. I think new carpet will freshen up the whole place. It is definitely long overdue. I don't think it will show a lot of dirt or anything."
Benton said the timing for the new carpet was just right. Had they installed it over break, faculty and staff members would have had to come in during their time off. She said it was also good to handle the situation so early in the semester, because faculty members would probably have greater difficulty moving later when their schedules are more hectic with assignments and tests.
Terry Cunconan, department chair, said the department is appreciative of the new carpet.
"This is really great," Cunconan said. "We do really need it. The snags and seams were becoming a problem."
He said there had not been much attention given to the carpet in the past because there were always other issues to focus on.
"If the choice were between getting new equipment for the faculty and students and getting new carpet," Cunconan said, "of course, the new equipment would be our priority."
Cunconan said the biggest problem with the remodeling was finding storage for all of the materials in the offices. He said it was "logistically difficult" for faculty members to remove their possessions from the offices and replace them in an orderly way.
Cunconan said this issue was a minor setback and well worth the final result.