Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1981)
Photo by Steve Dykes A recently remodeled Gilbert Hall classroom shows the curved, tiered seating favorable to teaching by the case method Gilbert Hall classrooms rebuilt Businessmen chip in remodeling By JIM LUND Of the Emerald In these troubled economic times, it’s hard enough to make ends meet, let alone undertake a construction project. But that’s exactly what the Universi ty business school has done. Oregon businesses and foun dations have contributed over $400,000 to renovate Gilbert Hall, home of the College of Business and Administration, according to the business col lege’s assistant dean for exter nal affairs, Don Christensen. With the funds, classrooms are being made more adaptable to modern teaching techniques. “We didn’t really have a room in the entire building that was adequate for teaching by the case method,” said University vice president for administra tion and finance Ray Hawk. In the case method, a profes sor presents an actual business problem and the students discuss possible solutions. The tut*-.-''; McKenzie Coffee Co. World’s finest coffees Mexican and Swiss Chocolate Rare and Exotic Teas Steamed Bagels Mayflower Building 782 E. 11th 342-2071 c 2 c room has tiered seating shaped in a curve to promote discus sion and increased eye contact. “(College of Business Admin istration) Dean Reinmuth start ed talking to some of the men in the business community that he knew, and happily the Giustinas responded to his suggestion of wanting to build a case study room," Hawk said. Recruiting funds for the Gius tina case room, sponsored by Eugene lumberman Ehrmen Giustina, represented a first for the business college. ‘‘To the best of my know ledge, to actually do something in physical construction to remodel rooms and improve the teaching environment is not on ly a first for the business school, it's a first for the University, outside of the athletic department," Hawk said. Since the project began 2'h years ago, five classrooms have been redesigned. To go along with the Giustina room, Eugene lumber executive Edwin Cone funded a case room John Holmes of Medford contributed to a new seminar room, the Bohemia Lumber Co. financed a new computer laboratory, and Eugene businessmen Nils Hult and L.L. Stewart funded a new conference room. Two new projects are underway "It seems as if tipping the first domino helps to get others started," Hawk said. A further explanation for the project’s success is offered by Christen sen. "Business and industry have a vested interest in the kind of students and the quality of students that we turn out,” Christensen said. "Obviously, if we turn out first-rate business students they’re going to be first-rate employees. If we at tract better faculty and students to Oregon, there's a good chance they’re going to stay here, too." Because of the condition of the economy, Hawk sees other schools following the business Need a place next fall? • Sign up with us now to be sure of finding what you want • We can guarantee you a place near campus. • Roommate finding service available. Try us, we really want to help! Valley Rental Housing 1000 Willagillespie Rd., Suite 6 343-0358 Hours: 8 to 6, Mon. thru Sat. V college’s lead. “I suspect that we will see this as an example others will fol low,” Hawk said. "I think it will become a trend.” Christensen agrees, but cau tions other schools on campus may have a more difficult time. “It’s easier for us because we have a natural constituency. Most of our construction has come about because people who are on our college of busi ness advisory board are sensi tive to our needs and have con tributed the funds for them,” Christensen said. “I’ve been awfully pleased with the kind of support we've seen from the business community and the alumni." The state, however, is another matter. ‘‘Unfortunately, we’re step ping in where the state should be,” Christensen said. "It really should be a state function, but the money simply hasn’t come in for renovating and maintain ing some of these buildings, so we’ve had to go to private sources. ” The likelihood of state funds filtering down to an individual school for physical renovation within a reasonable time period is slim, Hawk says. "I would not want to hold my breath,” Hawk admitted "When you consider the backlog of demands, the chance to get down to remodeling classrooms in a given building are so remote that I would say it’s not going to happen in my lifetime.” Gilbert Hall is composed of a pair of buildings — the original Oregon Hall built in 1914 and the School of Commerce build ing built in 1921 — linked together by another building completed in 1951. The com plex was known as Common wealth Hall until 1975 when it was renamed for the late James Gilbert, who had taught econ omics and served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University. i-Save At-1 LAZAR’S BAZAR j FREE ROLLING PAPERS ! WITH THIS COUPON J (Limit one coupon per customer) No Purchase Necessary LAZAR S BAZAR j RECORDS AND PIPES j 1036 Willamette Street and 164 W. Broadway on the downtown mall 687-9766 or 687-0139 -Valuable Coupon----_! Find it in the Emerald classifieds! ^ r* ■ M V if «* ■■ *t M V H ■■■■ v X -« ■■ * ..* * •> r
