“The administration didn’t want us there in the first place. We’ve been threatened with moving for the past 10 years.”

That is how Carl Hayano, graduate director of the NIU art department, summed up plans to move graduate art students from their current studios in Altgeld Hall to newly set-up studios in the Art Annex, 2211 Sycamore Road.

Inspectors declared the Altgeld space a fire hazard in December. The 16 studios have been in a former auditorium on the building’s second floor since 1975.

“The students weren’t moved earlier because there was no place to put them,” Hayano said.

The space problem has been partially solved by the annex, but Hayano said the art department still needs space on campus.

Despite Hayano’s claims, Jerry Meyer, assistant chairman of the art department, said the space in Altgeld was “always considered temporary. Because of the wooden floors, and other factors, it never has been considered safe. But because of insufficient funds, they were unable to move.”

NIU was able to come up with the additional funds to remodel the third floor of the annex to accommodate studios, Meyer said. Drawing rooms will be moved to Still Hall, he said.

Hayano said the space at the annex cannot fulfill the students’ needs. More space was eliminated than can be covered by the annex.

“The school of art is a large body, and is always in a space bind,” he said.

Students who have some form of transportation available to them should have no problem getting to the annex, Hayano said. It is, however, an “inconvenience” for those without a car.

“It’s an unfortunate thing for students who do not have a car. They’ll have to get a ride or take the bus. (Huskie) Bus 7 goes out there,” Meyer said.

Anthony Fusaro, assistant provost for budget and space, said the department or office that will move into the soon-to-be-vacant Altgeld space has not been determined yet.

“It will be used for some unit that needs a large open space … and has nothing flammable.

“I hope the decision will be made (about who will get the space) sometime this summer. I don’t want to say who is being considered because I don’t want to disappoint anyone,” Fusaro said.

A Dec. 4 inspection of NIU artists’ studios by campus police and the DeKalb Fire Department revealed several violations of the National Fire Prevention’s Life Safety Code. The inspection was conducted after the agencies received anonymous complaints about the art studios.

The inspection revealed students had placed extension cords throughout the area to connect equipment, such as lights, stereos, hot plates and one small refrigerator. Some of the items were removed in January.

Members of the DeKalb Fire Department expressed concerns that exposed flammable materials, widespread use of extension cords and clutter of art supplies constituted a potential fire hazard.

NIU officials inspected the building a second time on Jan. 11 after being notified of potential hazards. The officials reported to the DeKalb Fire Department that the art students had cleaned the area.

Meyer said he believes the Sycamore Road annex will be better for the students because the lighting and safety measures are better. “There were inadequate outlets for lighting in the auditorium.”

Altgeld houses some of NIU’s administrative offices and records.