Last year, Southeast Missouri State University's Student Government Association began to discuss much needed renovations for Parker Field. The field, which sits behind Scully and Parker buildings, has been used for numerous events such as Greek bid days, Student Activities Council Hump Days and carnivals; it is also popular for its sand volleyball courts. The open field makes it a popular venue for these types of events as well as intramural games. SGA began to see a need for change to the area after the completion of the central stairwell.
"Parker connects the main transit way across campus," Bruce Skinner, vice president of student success and auxiliary services, said. "This project is part of the university's desire to improve the pedestrian thoroughfare through campus."
On Nov. 11 and 12, SGA conducted surveys asking for student input about the renovations. Students were given numerous options to choose from, including stadium lights for the sand volleyball courts, a foot washing and water fountain station for the courts, an outdoor basketball court, landscaping with foliage or no changes at all.
Most of these changes would require extensive funding and construction by the university. Since the field is not equipped with water or power, the stadium lights alone would require running of electricity through trenches and wires from a building capable of powering the lights, as well as pouring concrete for a stable base. The stadium lights would also have to be placed on a timing system ensuring they were only on when the court is in use.
Of the 657 surveys collected, most students stated they wanted the renovation to include lights for the sand volleyball court. The second most desired renovation was the outdoor basketball court.
The third most selected option was National Pan-Hellenic Council's plan to construct a plaza in dedication to eight of the nine NPHC organizations, excluding Kappa Alpha Psi. Kappa Alpha Psi would not be represented due to the organization's involvement with the death of Michael Davis in 1994.
"The NPHC organizations have opted to not include Kappa Alpha Psi in any of the planning for this plaza," Skinner said. "In reality, on this campus there are only ever going to be eight [NPHC] organizations. If we represent the ninth, we can't do that absent to Michael Davis. If we did that, it would introduce that issue into the plaza when really it is meant to highlight the organizations."
The plaza would include an amphitheater and stage area as well as a walkway with stone plaques commemorating the organizations.
Skinner said this project would help increase the profile of NPHC on campus as well as improve alumni relations.
"[The Plaza] would provide a physical connection back to the campus for their alumni," Skinner said. "Our NPHC organizations don't have houses like our other Greek organizations so this is a step towards that physical representation on campus."
All Southeast students for any event could use the plaza's amphitheater and multipurpose space, but the main focus of the plaza would be the dedication stones.
With so many options to choose from, SGA and other contributing organizations must take the voices of students into consideration.
"We are trying to relay the opinions of what students want to see done and then decide what is best based on what students want," Doug Halim, the special projects chairman for SGA, said. "It's about how wide of a net we can cast, how many opinions we can get and what projects can be done that students can cherish for years to come."
Halim also said there is always room for more information and added that more surveys would be done before a decision is made on what to do with the project.
According to Skinner, funding for the renovation project would have to come from numerous sources besides the university. For the NPHC Plaza, alumni donations would be essential, but funding from organizations such as SGA would be necessary as well.
Skinner also said that in theory, all of the proposed projects could be completed all at once or in phases, but that the renovations would cost the university more if they were done in phases.
The renovation planning is still in the beginning stages and construction may not begin until fall 2016.
