UAM Additions And Needs Part 1: The Gallery Room

Managing Editor

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello implemented many changes to the UAM campus this semester, which included the renovation of the Patio Café into the Gallery Room that reached completion Oct. 21.

   The Patio Café replacement idea came up when the Patio Café shut down due to the new addition of Montague’s Deli. Montague’s and Java City now reside in the Fred J. Taylor Library and Technology Center where the Art Gallery once was.

   Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jay Hughes said, “The Patio Café was mostly unhealthy with fried foods and mimicked the cafeteria often.”

   Hughes said that the Student Affairs’ top three priorities include safety, housing and food, which they focus on what to do to improve and elevate these three. Students interested in voicing their concerns regarding major decisions made at UAM, such as renovations, can utilize the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Board, the Resident Hall Association and the Greek Council, which serve as the formal lines of communication between students and the Student Affairs office. 

   In regard to the decision-making process on this renovation and other similar tasks, Hughes said, “Finance and budgets are unfortunately a big decision; resources that drive a lot of decisions like that are limited, i.e. man power and money.” 

   Hughes also said the relocation of Java City and changing the Patio Café makes for a better campus experience for students. The meeting room provides a place for formal and informal occasions and serves as the ideal place for catered events. Aramark will cater any events that occur in the Gallery Room.

   Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Jay Jones said, “Finance and Administration work on the finance side of the contract that governs what they do.” Aramark and UAM share a contract that allows Aramark to provide and serve the food on campus. The contract has reached its third year out of seven.

   According to Jones, the money used to fund this project ultimately came from revenue earned over the course of Aramark and UAM’s contract from food purchased through meal plans, declining balances, catered events and meetings and everyday use by students, faculty and staff.  

   As far as the renovations, UAM’s maintenance employees completed included removing some lights, painting the walls a single color and cutting off the kitchen area from the room with a wall and two doors, which will be secured as walls. The stage and bar area remained, and the kitchen became a place to store catering supplies. The overall renovation cost, according to Jim Hudgins, totaled $1,675, which looks modest when compared to other renovations and additions to UAM.

   UAM finished construction and renovations of the clock tower located behind Harris Hall and phase one of the Master Plan construction and renovation jobs, which included work on Weevil Pond, Wells and Sorrells Halls, the indoor practice facility, renovations to the Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium, the agricultural barn, the School of Forest Resources’ work center and classroom and lab additions at the Crossett and McGehee campuses, according to an article published by former Editor-in-Chief Linna Jones. UAM started phase two of the Master Plan with the construction and renovation of the Forest Resources Complex.

   Although, the Gallery Room renovations, along with the construction of Montague’s Deli and relocation of Java City, do not fall under the Master Plan. Their cost won’t receive funding from the Master Plan’s allocation of money. Instead their funding comes from the Aramark and UAM contract, which paid the $1,675 for the Gallery Room and approximately $200,000 for the Java City and Montague’s renovation.

   UAM spent $2.9 million on the practice facility and forecasts to spend over $5.5 million on the School of Forest Resources’ building construction, according to Linna Jones’ article. UAM also completed the renovation of Weevil Pond and the Centennial Clock Tower before renovating and adding useful additions.

   UAM, with all of the renovating and constructing, encountered various issues with the work. During the clock tower construction, construction workers damaged a phone line with their machines that required fixing by phone crews, according to an article published by Marcus Roberts, a contributing writer to The Voice. 

   With the demolition of Jeter Hall to construct the School of Forest Resources new annex, school organizations no longer have their own personal space on campus. Although, UAM dedicated the Red Barn located to the right of the Turner Neal Museum of Natural History, which unfortunately eliminates the personal space Jeter Hall once provided considering at least 12 of the 14 organizations requested space in the Red Barn.

   Another issue that occurred due to needing to stay within budget was the canceling of the Babin Business Center’s elevator addition. UAM removed this from the Sorrells and Wells Halls renovation plan to remain within their budget for the other two buildings, which leaves the BBC still with limited access.

   Fortunately, no incidents occurred with the renovations of the Gallery Room, and although the renovations “are bland” as Hughes said, it does provide a new place for students or faculty to utilize for meetings and gives Aramark an ideal location for catered events.

   People interested in reserving the Gallery Room can do so through the University Reservations page.

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©The Voice 2011