Commencement not the end for DePauw campus activity, construction on agenda

Friday, May 17, 2013

Sunday's commencement at DePauw University may signal the end of the academic year but that doesn't mean activity as a whole will cease on campus any time soon.

After all, construction work abounds and preparations are well in hand to move beyond the university's 175th anniversary celebration with a landmark incoming class in tow and a hub of activity swirling about campus.

Audra Blasdel, DePauw director of community relations and auxiliary services, visited City Hall Tuesday night to update the Greencastle City Council on campus activities and projects.

Some 600 students, she advised, will graduate Sunday morning as 2013 commencement ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Holton Quadrangle in front of the Roy O. West Library.

However, those graduates will be quickly replaced in August by "the largest class in recent history," Blasdel told the Council, with the DPU Class of 2017 currently boasting some 675 commitments.

It also figures to be one of brightest groups to hit Greencastle, raising the collective high school grade-point average (GPA) of the class from 3.64 on 4.0 scale for the Class of 2016 to 3.74 for the enrolling group.

"Also, enrollment stays at 2,300," Blasdel said of a student body number which President Brian Casey has previously pointed to as manageable and efficient for preserving the time-honored qualities of a DePauw education.

Meanwhile, construction work on the athletic campus has kicked into high gear, Blasdel told city officials. She noted that the new artificial turf is due to be installed next month at Blackstock Stadium in order to accommodate the Aug. 1 start of football practice for coach Bill Lynch's Tiger crew.

She also noted that renovations continue on the Lilly Physical Education and Recreation Center with metal work in place and a re-enclosure of the facility expected by the start of August.

Overall, the timetable on DePauw's outdoor athletic facilities points toward completion by the first quarter of 2014, while the indoor work is expected to take a little longer, Blasdel said.

Meanwhile, DePauw has also agreed to a contract with an architect on the new campus dining hall to be located west of the Union Building.

That means the dining hall effort is in week one of a 150-week total project, Blasdel said.

"So we're just beginning to get our arms around that," the DePauw spokesman said.

As far as other projects around campus, the houses that were recently moved from South Jackson Street to south of the Media Center on the east side of Locust Street will be "dropped onto their foundations" as soon as all state and local building permits and inspections have been completed, she said.

Also renovation of the historic DePauw-owned home at 429 Anderson St. will be under way soon as bids for the work were taken recently.

"Residents can expected to see scaffolding up soon," Blasdel predicted.

She also pointed out that the bookstore will continue regular operations at its new downtown location even while classes are out this summer. A number of community-related events are planned to encourage local participation, Blasdel added.

Council members, most notably Phyllis Rokicki, expressed delight that the university had sent Blasdel to address city officials on the ongoing campus projects and developments as a matter of courtesy.

No DePauw-related issue was otherwise included on the evening's agenda.

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