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MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) — Northern Michigan University trustees have approved an $80 million residence hall replacement project.
The board voted unanimously Friday on the plan which would demolish four aging halls, The Mining Journal of Marquette reported (http://bit.ly/1VZjQKd ) Saturday. Modern housing would be built.
Some students and faculty spoke against part of the plan, which calls for the destruction of part of an outdoor learning area that features native plants. The school's plan is to create additional native plant sites on other parts of the campus.
Gant, Spalding, Halverson and Payne halls are slated to be torn down.
"I know how old they are and how inefficient they are and I believe that they are a detrimental factor to Northern Michigan University's ability to gain students," Trustee Steve Mitchell said.
The project represents a public/private partnership between the school and a private development company that constructs and manages collegiate housing communities.
Responding to complaints about the loss of part of the Native Plants and Outdoor Learning Area, Mitchell said a long-term vision should be used for the viability of the school, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The Native Plants and Outdoor Learning Area contains native wildflowers and grasses like lance-leaved coreopsis, black-eyed Susan and big bluestem.
"You cannot destroy part of it without affecting what's left, either from an ecological sense or from a teaching sense," said Ron Sundell, a former professor in the School of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the university.
"Building an ecological system takes time and effort," Sundell said. "It's not something you can move around like a chair or roll up like a carpet. Northern has a very unique asset that needs to be considered here."
Senior Nathan Frischkorn said the area is part of the natural environment that attracts students to Northern Michigan University.
"This area really is an extension of our indoor classrooms," he said.
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Information from: The Mining Journal, http://www.miningjournal.net
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