On Wednesday, Charlie Francis, director of the Nebraska Unions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, led a town hall meeting to give staff members a chance to discuss several topics.
Among the things covered was the Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center, which will be built on the east side of the Nebraska Union.
Project Manager Brooke Hay addressed the group and informed them on various updates to the project.
"We are looking at starting construction around the middle of September," Hay said.
Staff members expressed concern over what the parking situation would be like once construction began. The center is to be built on a parking lot that has 100 spaces.
Hay explained that parking spots may be moved around to accommodate the construction.
"Parking will have the biggest impact on the area," Hay said.
Construction will carry into the early part of second semester, but Hay said he believes that the building tenants will be able to move in by February 2009.
Jim Davis of University Police was also on hand to describe some new plans for staff safety training.
"We will have three sessions," Davis said. "One will be on situation awareness, fraud and then personal safety."
Davis compared the sessions to a citizen's academy. He wanted to break them up this way so staff could attend any of the sessions without feeling pressure to attend all of the them.
Tish Roland, director of child care for UNL, also spoke about the UNL Children's Center that is being built at 22nd and Vine streets in the renovated Whittier building.
Roland said there will be 10 different classrooms that can serve up to 150 different children.
A pre-school curriculum will be in place for some students. The age range for the UNL Children's Center will be from six weeks up to eight years old. There will be part-time care available for either mornings or afternoons.
"The building will be open from seven (a.m.) to six (p.m.)," Roland said.
During that time, kids will be given breakfast and later served a snack. Parents can mark down what type of meal they would like their child to receive.
Roland fielded questions on whom the child care center will accept. She explained that the center is available to children of UNL students, faculty and the Lincoln community. There are currently 54 names on the waiting list.
mikeschaefer@dailynebraskan.com
Be the first to comment on this article!