N.C. A&T has been making many changes amongst its campus. Renovations and new buildings will be springing up before the students’ eyes in no time, and surely everyone is curious to know how A&T shall progress from its current state.The five-year Master Plan is the plan that dictates what buildings will be constructed and restored in the next five years. University engineer Andrew Perkins wasted no time explaining what was in store for A&T. “We have exceeded our expectations,” he said enthusiastically. Perkins said that two bond projects have already been accomplished: security lighting and complete renovation of the art gallery. The General Classroom building directly behind to Merrick and Crosby halls is 80 percent done, he said, and the steam lines and access holes are about 85 percent done. A new science building is being added next winter. Also next year, there will be transformer replacements. A priority list for the bond program, Perkins said, was to provide better than adequate facilities. The residences halls were first on the agenda. Academic facilities were to be taken care of nextand lastly was the infrastructure itself. Perkins said he believed this would all take place in accordance with the 3 to 7 year framework. From the housing aspect, everything is on schedule. The new Residence Mall will offer 840 beds and will be rather similar to Aggie Suites. It will take up quite a bit of space. To allow for construction, Salem Street will be closed off, and the residence halls will extend to the intersection of Bluford and Obermyer streets. This Residence Mall will also have an accompanying clock tower.Cooper Hall has just gone into a period of renovation and will open in fall 2003. Alex Haley was just reopened and is now accommodating students. The next dorms in the lineup for renovations will be Holland, Barbee and Morrow Hall. Officials stated that it hadn’t been determined if renovations will take place at Curtis Hall As of now Scott Hall has been slaited to be torn down and rebuilt, but it is not definite. However, the wall of Scott Hall that is marked by bullets shot during the civil rights movement, will be reserved. “Yes, everything is definitely on schedule,” said Dr. Carmen Tillery, the director of Housing and Residence Life. Parking, on the other hand, has been an issue for years now, and the influx of students does not help. Perkins was quick to add that parking is already being established throughout the campus. For example, he said, the lot next to the cafeteria will hopefully be finished in 10 days or so. The new General Classroom building will have a parking area. However, the students will have to wait a little bit longer for more parking. Perkins predicted that in 6-8 months more parking spaces will be created. And a parking deck, although much talked about, is not on the agenda as of now but is being looked into. Perkins emphasized that there will be more spaces for the students on the campus.“The physical Master Plan transforms our campus,” said Chancellor James C. Renick.. “The Master Plan will create wonderful green spaces, incredible visual appeal and be more pedestrian friendly. It will create an environment that will be conducive to learning and elegant as well. The buildings we’ll build will be beautiful and functional.” Students have been using the benches. We have an opportunity to create an exciting space and spaces and it’s really very exciting to me and the people, the community and the staff,” Renick added.

• Jessica DeVault