The Atrium-Talley project represents the most important opportunity to transform student life at N.C. State for the next 30 years. It is critical that students are well informed and have a voice in the decision. Today’s referendum is your opportunity to express your point of view. I urge you to vote and to support the Atrium-Talley Renovation and Expansion Indebtedness Fee for the following reasons:

First, the need to complete this project is clear, and has been articulated by the Rally 4 Talley Campaign, led by Student Centers President Marycobb Randall and former President Peter Barnes. The Atrium renovation will expand this facility, providing more food options, seating and efficient service. This project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2010 and will relieve lunch time congestion.

Talley Student Center is woefully inadequate to serve current and projected enrollment and ranks at the bottom of our peer universities in terms of what it provides. We need to expand and enhance food service, lounge and recreational areas, bookstore and retail services, meeting space, space for student organizations, student activities and the arts. These enhancements will be accomplished through a major addition to the existing Talley, a complete renovation of the existing building, and demolition of the existing bookstore. The design of the building and the functions located within will result in a student center that will truly be the center of student life at the University. Students will want to go there and will be proud to bring their parents and friends there.

The cost of completing this project will be significant. Like all student life facilities, it will depend on a debt service fee to finance the project. The facilities you benefit from today, such as Carmichael Complex, Student Health Service and Thompson Theater were all made possible thanks to the generosity and vision of your predecessors. This source of funding in no way compromises the money available to reduce class size, hire faculty or support new class sections. I can also assure you that your Student Government leaders have worked tirelessly with the University to lower this fee as much as possible. The presentation to the Fee Review Committee requested a debt service fee of $83 per year to begin in the fall of 2010, and then gradually increase over the next three years until it reaches $290 per year in the fall of 2013. I know that some students do not believe this is the right time to move forward with this fee. It is important to understand that delaying the project will have a very negative consequence: escalating construction costs will either cause the debt service fee to be higher than currently proposed, or we will end up with a facility significantly reduced in size and scope.

Now is the time to support this much needed enhancement to student life at the University.