After reading that the MSU Board of Trustees voted to tear down Morrill Hall in Trustees approve demolition of 108-year-old Morrill Hall (SN 9/15), I was deeply concerned.
I was disappointed that MSU — a university that prides itself on being green — would choose to demolish a large building instead of restoring it, the ultimate form of building recycling.
Consider all the bricks, windows, wood and other materials that would need to be sent to landfills once the building is destroyed. If a new building will replace Morrill Hall, new energy would be exerted to create and supply necessary materials to construct such a building.
Any university that praises itself on being “Spartan Green” should choose to recycle every element of the university — not just what is easy or what is visually pleasing.
Not only is destroying this building a poor use of energy and resources, it removes a large symbol of MSU’s history from the everyday eye. The university should not ignore the historic significance of Morrill Hall, since it was the first place women at MSU called home.
Across campus, we have seen MSU restore Eustace-Cole and Marshall-Adams halls, to name a couple. These projects are excellent examples of what can be done — and what should be done — to the historic buildings on MSU’s campus.
A budget of $36 million has been suggested for this project, which could help update and stabilize Morrill Hall. Morrill Hall might be bigger in square feet, but that should not stop the university from restoring and keeping it for future students to treasure.
Raina Regan
2008 MSU graduate and Ball State University historic preservation graduate student
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