Mathematicians are not widely known for a combative nature, but the construction that began in Kerchof Hall ahead of schedule Monday has some in the University's math department fuming.
The construction includes the sealing of a stairwell to make the building's fourth floor a viable academic space within fire codes. Work originally was slated to begin after this semester's last day of classes, but a lack of allocated money forced the University to move work ahead to this week.
Math Prof. Nicholas Kuhn said he canceled office hours on Monday because of the sound of "loud power tools outside of my office at 11 a.m., like jackhammers." Kuhn's office is located nearly 10 feet from the stairway that is being closed.
Barriers installed yesterday block the entrance to the stairway, which is being demolished to accommodate a Virginia fire code that would prohibit the configuration of Kerchof after the proposed renovations to the fourth floor.
Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) froze funding to Virginia universities after his budget was rejected by the General Assembly in March. The University has had to juggle the status of a number of construction projects because of a lack of funds.
As a result of financial constraints, "certain projects got stopped," compelling the University to "use people as expeditiously as possible" and forcing the construction to Monday, said Richard Sundburg, an associate dean for administration in the College.
"The full faculty of the math department and especially the graduate students were never contacted by the College regarding the plan and the new date" of construction, Kuhn said.
Sundburg declined to comment on how the College worked with the math department during its decision to begin construction.
For many years, the math department has coveted the fourth floor of Kerchof Hall for use as an office space for graduate students, who now work four to an office.
After construction ends, the renovated space would go to another department, possibly media studies, Kuhn said.
The College's math department recently began teaching classes in the Engineering School and has hired five new faculty members to accommodate the demand. Math Department Chairman James Howland also said he expects a large class of incoming graduate students in the fall.
"We had four offices in Halsey Hall that we gave up on the assumption that we would get" the fourth floor, Howland said. "We were promised the space two years ago and now all of a sudden we're not getting it. We've told Mr. Sundburg that we need more space, and he said he's working on it," he said.
The College has not yet assigned space on the fourth floor to a particular group after construction, Sundburg said.
D. Mark Webb, the University associate director for work management, could not be reached for comment.
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