-THE RECORD-
-Page 7-
Quad Goes Mod
By Peter Berg
The daily racket of clattering debris sliding through a giant metal snake which slinks its way into a large "dumpster" on the northwest corner of the Quadrangle attests to the fact that something is going on inside. But what is happening? "Is it worth the noise?" an annoyed student asks.
From now to the Summer of 1980, St. John's will be spending two million dollars in an effort to update the aging Quadrangle. Built in fits and starts from 1868 to 1882, the Quad was constructed entirely from local resources: nearby trees were cut, lumber was sawn and hauled to the site; clay was dug and the bricks for construction were made in an adjacent kiln. Most of the construction was undertaken by members of the Benedictine community; scenarios of the period of construction show Abbot Alexius Edelbrock and architect Fr. Gregory Steil "clambering on the roofs speeding construction."
Over the years, however, the variety of uses to which the Quad was subjected led to varying design quality and consistency within the building. The current project is an effort to coordinate the interior design of the Quad, as well as to reverse the toll on the building dealt by its century of existence. The renovation project is the result of a comprehensive study of University facilities undertaken by a Massachusetts architect commissioned by St. John's in 1976. The study,
called "Dober Plan," recommended the preservation and restoration of the Quadrangle as an integral part of the environment at St. John's.
"It's one of the greatest things we've got on campus, this old building," said Fr. Jim Tinger-thal, SJU Director of Corporate Enterprises. "The Quad is a jewel—why not make something of it? It's solid."
In keeping up with the times (not to mention building and fire codes) wooden stairways will be replaced, and an automatic sprinkler system will be installed for the entire building. A new elevator and stairwell between the Quad and Wimmer Hall will allow access to both buildings for the handicapped. Money saving features such as thermal pane windows are also being incorporated into the plan.
Presently, workers are gutting the interior of the building, and stripping the walls and ceilings to the original brick and wood beams. When the process is finished, the exposed brick and ceiling beams will give classrooms and offices a "rustic" look. "You will actually be able to see the structure of the building," Tingerthal said.
"Another of the plan's selling features is soundproofing of walls and ceilings to diminish sound transfer from floor to floor and room to room, so that students will not be listening to a neighboring French class during a history lecture," Tingerthal
(Quad, continued on page 8)
BULL BOARD
The Quad as it will look tomorrow
People are wanted to model for afternoon and evening drawing classes at the BAC. $3.75 per hour. Contact Pat Adamietz, Art Department secretary, at 363-5785.
Music manuscripts from the Rare Book collection of St. John's University are currently on exhibit here at the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library (HMML). The display features a musical palimpsest in which pages from a fourteenth century missal of music were erased and reused in the sixteenth or seventeenth century for more modern liturgical settings. The manuscripts will remain on display at the Hill library through December 31 and may be viewed weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Federal Union Youth Program is sponsoring a Student Editorial Contest with a $500 prize. The topic is "A Federal Union: A New Architecture for a Community of the Free." Deadline for submission is December 31, 1978. For more information, write or call the Record, Box 1285, phone 3609.
Get ready to wiggle your toes at the "Foot-Loose and Fancy-Free" dance marathon tonight. Sponsored by the United Farm Workers and KSJU, the Rat Hall dance will begin at 9:00 p.m. and run for 24 hours, during which time $400 in prizes will be given away. Admission charge is fifty cents and all proceeds will go to support the United Farm Workers.
*****
Remember the underwear survey? Well, lately we've been short on survey ideas. If you have any suggestions, send a brief note to the Record, Boxer 1285.
A national essay contest, focusing on the use of animals in research and education programs, was announced by Alice Herrington, president of Friends of Animals, Inc. The best essay will receive a first prize of $2000. There will be three awards of second prizes of $1000 each and six awards of third prizes in the amount of $500 each. The question is: "Why should the Congress end funding of research and education programs that involve the use of animals, and divert these funds to alternative methods?" More information and official rules and entry blanks are available in the Record office, or you may obtain them by writing: The Regina Bauer Frankenberg Essay Committee, Attn: James Mason, Vice President, Friends of Animals, Inc., 11 West 60th Street, New York, N.Y. 10023. Essays will be limited to 5000 words and they must be received by April 30, 1979.
Announcements for Bull Board should be sent to the Record, Box 1285. Next deadline: December 5.
