After numerous postponements and a semester-long delay, the Bookmark Cafe in Bracken Library is finally open for business.
Although students now can visit the caf+â-¬ to take a break from studying or researching while in the library, the delays were overly long and drawn out. The complications came as a result of irresponsible companies who didn't deliver what they promised.
Originally, the delays were caused by late food carts. When the carts finally did arrive - still late - other components such as refrigerator compressors, lights and furniture weren't delivered on time.
During all of the delays, the companies that couldn't keep their promises had money that could have been put to better use on furthering student life on campus. All in all, the Bookmark Cafe cost more than $150,000 of students' money, an investment that was quite late in coming to fruition.
At the very least, the university could have kept the money out of the companies' pockets, where it was gaining interest while deliveries continued to be delayed. The money could have been spent on other important areas in student life or even given to a more responsible company in return for the parts that were needed.
It seemed that during every part of the installation process there was some part or another that kept pushing the opening day further and further back. In the midst of the delays, dining was only able to offer excuses and apologies to the students who were originally led to believe they would have the caf+â-¬ sometime during Fall Semester 2006.
Though the delinquent companies are ultimately to blame, the university could have at least announced the delays in a timely manner throughout the process. If the names of the delinquent companies were announced along with the delays, the companies in question might have been forced to deliver sooner to avoid bad publicity.
Instead, there were few announcements and the companies were rarely, if ever, named. As a result, students were forced to endure more and more delays instead of enjoying the services that had been promised so long ago.
The university has made promises to open the new Park Hall, the new Communication and Media Building, an upgraded Scheumann Stadium and the renovated Woodworth Commons, all by Fall Semester 2007. The university would do well to make sure these new and improved campus features aren't delayed like the Bookmark Cafe was because this time there is no one else to blame.
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