Croft building to be completed

Julie Finley
DM News Editor

The Ole Miss campus has one less gray fence.

The gray fence, which has become known as a sign of construction, around the old "Y" building was removed early this week. A newly renovated building that will be known as the Croft Institute was revealed.

The new building, in the Grove across from the Student Union, will house the Croft Institute and the Study Abroad Office. Construction on the building is not yet complete, but the university has a target date of July 31 for completion. Michael Metcalf, executive director of the Croft Institute and professor of history and international studies, said they will not move into the new building until sometime around September, after the new furniture arrives.

The first floor of the new building will house the Study Abroad Office as well as a multipurpose room with an auditorium that will seat 90, a conference room that holds 45 and a reception area. The second floor will have classrooms and faculty offices, and the third will hold the executive offices and a conference room.

Funding for the renovations was paid for by the John C. Bancroft educational and charitable fund. The project cost $3.25 million. The Croft Institute will lease the building from the university for $1 a year.

Renovations began in February 1999 and were expected to be complete by April 30, 2000. A major delay in the construction was due to a discovery that six columns, located on the first floor in the multipurpose room, that hold up a major part of the second floor had no footing. Plans were slowed due to this surprise, Metcalf said.

The Croft Institute and Study Abroad office are currently located in the George Street University House, behind the Lyceum on the south side of the library. The Croft Institute was founded July 1998 and is the home of the international studies major. At the end of the spring there were 64 students majoring in international studies, and 55 new students on the way. The program also created 10 new faculty positions.

The Study Abroad office helps students learn about studying abroad and advises and facilitates their trip.

Susan Oliphant, coordinator of the study abroad programs, worked in the "Y" building prior to her work in the Study Abroad Office.

"I'm happy to be going home again," Oliphant said. "It's going to be wonderful to be in the same surroundings that are nicer."

Metcalf said he is excited about the move.

"We are all looking forward to students from around the university coming to the new building," Metcalf said.

The institute will have a progress meeting on Wed. July 26 to discuss plans to move into the new building.