Controversy among faculty and students erupted last week after administrators unveiled plans to build a $9.5-million athletic training facility on campus. Ironically, the article that explained this proposal ran among a number of other stories that week suggesting urgent needs for money elsewhere at NIU. Letters to the editor regarding the situation piled up in the Northern Star.

I feel it’s necessary to set the record straight about the real problems and positive results a new building like this could yield, as well as to give credit, or blame, where it is due.

First of all, this center will be built entirely from donor support and will not require any state funds or student fees for its construction. But, 60,000-square-foot buildings do not run on air. According to Mike Saari, NIU Physical Plant assistant director, the cost of heating, providing electricity and charging for sewer services for this building will average a cost of slightly under $100,000 a year. The athletics department was unable to comment on how this maintenance would be budgeted. It also didn’t comment on how the equipment within the facility would be provided. As of now, we do not know if the costs for provisions and maintenance of this building will be a factor that affects our student fees or not.

Also, the decision to build this center is a result of the choices of donors, not necessarily the persuasion of our administration. The idea for this center was brought up by a group of volunteers and donors, NIU Foundation president Mallory Simpson said. “They felt it was needed to enhance our program for student athletes,” Simpson said. “This is a project donors expressed interest in and have pledged for over a period of time.”

Simpson also clarified that while there may be more pressing needs already existing on campus, such as the renovation of dilapidated buildings or the increase of funds for academic programs, donors ultimately are “in the driver’s seat” when it comes to where the money should be spent.

“These dollars [for current campus problems] are very difficult to raise,” Simpson said. “Much of the patching and repairing that is needed doesn’t have … donor appeal.”

What does prompt donor appeal seems to be fresh, expensive real estate, such as Barsema Hall, the developing Alumni Center and now, a third athletic training facility that is supposed to be the one of the best in the MAC. These ventures were all put forth with the intent of sharpening NIU’s image, which will bring attention to our school and increase enrollment. Yet I wonder, with little consideration put toward maintaining the demands of the student body, is increased enrollment what we need?

Although this project is still in many ways controversial, we can only hope the final outcome will be rewarding. And if it serves its purpose in making NIU look flashier, perhaps it might help persuade donors to give more consideration to more pressing conditions on campus. I hope in this instance, what goes around will come around.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.