berglunds@lopers.unk.edu
Due to the prolonged renovations, there will be yearlong construction on UNK’s campus resulting in all online classes for the 2022-23 school year.
Campus will be closed starting Aug. 1, including all offices, the library, student union, bookstore, café and all dormitories.
“I think that going back to all online classes for a year will be best for students and the construction process right now,” said Cosmo Hobbit, executive chancellor at UNK. “It will really help us stay on top of things if there aren’t classes going on all day when we are trying to work.”
Construction will continue where Otto Olsen once stood, and all other existing plans remain the same, however, there will be several new construction plans throughout campus.
The first plan involves removing the fountain and replacing it with a bass pond where the Pro Bass fishing tournament will be held.
Another big improvement that Hobbit is “looking forward to” is the addition of virtual reality simulators to every classroom.
“The new technology will definitely be a useful tool in the classroom,” said Bobby Pigeon, professor at UNK. “This way, I won’t have to do any teaching, and I’ll roll in the big bucks by simply pressing a button.”
Along with the virtual reality there will be firefighter poles going through the library to make it easier to get to the bottom floor.
In the basement of the library there are going to be other changes along with the firefighter poles. They are going to take out the children’s section and put in a new wrestling ring.
“This way wrestlers can make a cooler entrance down the poles before a match,” Hobbit said. “Maybe even play some Beyoncé on the way down.”
The final plan is to add moving sidewalks — as are commonly found in airports — from parking lots and dorms to all buildings to make getting to class faster and easier.
UNK hopes to have these projects done in a year, but the project may take several years.
“Taking a year off of in person classes will be weird to get used to,” Pigeon said. “But I know it is all for the best because these new renovations are much needed.”
