Board Chair Talks of Rector's Future, DePauw's Uncommon Success
April 19, 2002
April 19, 2002, Greencastle, Ind. - 
[DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Top of the List" 382KB] 
[DOWNLOAD AUDIO: "Top of the List" 207KB] "It's at the top of the list," Judson C. Green Jr., chair of DePauw University's Board of Trustees says of renovating Rector Hall, which was heavily damaged by an April 7 fire. Green, speaking at a news conference at the conclusion of the Board's spring meeting, reiterated the University's hope to have the residence hall reopened by second semester of the next school year. The Board also viewed preliminary architectural sketches of what a renovated North Quad (where Rector is situated) could look like (those renderings are at top and throughout this story).
Green says, at its January retreat, the Board made the renovation of Rector and adjoining Lucy Rowland and Mason Halls a "very top priority" for the University. 
Obviously, that priority looms even larger today, and the chairman says, [DOWNLOAD AUDIO: "Priority in January" 357KB] "We've got some work to do to help the administration in continuing to raise funds so we can finance this rather large renovation project that's absolutely critical."
The Board chairman says the scope of renovating three dormitories, and rebuilding part of one of them, is something that is still being determined. [DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Big Project" 334KB] [DOWNLOAD AUDIO: "Big Project" 160KB]
"This is a particularly big project. I'm not sure what the total numbers will be, but it will be well in excess of $10 million for us to do that," Green told the assembled reporters.
He added, [DOWNLOAD AUDIO: "Planning" 419KB] "From what I heard today, it's still going to take another month or so to come up with specific plans/timelines of what to do." No students were injured in the fire (two firefighters suffered minor injuries), and the 116 residents of Rector who were displaced have found permanent housing for the remainder of the semester. Green says he and other Trustees are 
[DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Incredibly Thankful" 377KB] "Incredibly thankful that no one was seriously hurt, and also incredibly thankful that, from all the reports we received, the whole University community, and for 
that matter, the whole community, including Greencastle, pulled together and did such an outstanding job to minimize what could have been a much more significant disaster."
Judson Green says the Trustees touched on a myriad of other issues during their meetings, including admission. More than 500 new students have already committed to DePauw for next year, 18% more than last year's record-setting pace. [DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Very Strong Year" 483KB] "Applications are up, deposits are up, it's already a very strong year," Green said, "and we'll once again have a very strong incoming class."
The Trustees took a hard-hat tour of the Julian Science and Mathematics Center, which is being renovated and expanded, and the art building (seen at left) under construction. [DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Spectacular" 719KB]"The view from the top of the Julian Center, looking over campus toward the Union Building and that expanse of greenery, is simply a world-class view, it's spectacular, and I think everybody's going to love it when it's done," Green reported. "The art building is exciting because it's innovative. I think it will be a model of excellence for art centers around the country."
Finally, the chairman had words of praise for DePauw's men's and women's basketball teams, which both reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III tournament this year, a feat reached by only three universities (including DePauw) of any size in the history of college basketball.
Green says the Board is [DOWNLOAD AUDIO: "Halo" 217KB] "very, very proud of what they've accomplished and very excited for them and the University, 'cause it places a wonderful halo around DePauw."