Technology center a positive move

The Purdue Village ( formerly known as Married Student Housing) is finally being improved.

No, it's not being renovated, but rather replaced. And no, it's not all going, but even small improvements are still improvements.

However, what's replacing a large area of the ancient family housing area is not another housing project. The residents of the new building will be research professors and students as Purdue was allocated $5 million by the Indiana General Assembly's 2001-2002 budget to build its new nanotechnology research center, where the pink and green housing units once stood.

This facility is going to provide the University with the location and the resources to expand its already quality research program.

Now, however, Purdue will be considered a research institution rather than a University that does some research.

The hope is that the research done at this facility, located at State Street and Airport Road, will become nationwide noteworthy. With a complex like the one that is to be built on the outskirts of campus, Purdue research professors might finally get the support they need to establish this University as more than an engineering and management school. Sure, people know that Purdue is a school that conducts research, but with the help of a new collaborative facility, Purdue could be known as an expert in research in all areas.

For example, according to Purdue officials, the center is going to be conducting its primary research in atom construction. Meaning researchers at the center will be attempting to build small devices and systems atom by atom. Officials predict that this relatively new type of research will have an impact in medical treatment, business and communications, among other areas.

Now, $5 million is a lot of money that some might say could be used in different areas. But, considering that this was a project-specific allocation and considering that the total cost of getting this project ready to produce is going to be in the ballpark of $60 million, Purdue should make the most of this allocation. Fear not taxpayers, the remaining $55 million will be coming from private, and obviously wealthy, donors.

Sure, this University needs many improvements. It could use some additional housing, maybe some extra parking garages and maybe other schools could use some buildings and resources. But the benefits of being at the forefront of the research world is going to have some long-term positive effects on this University. Effects that will be felt by all in the Purdue community, not just the research-minded departments.

Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Kurt Esposito, Jamie Teibel, Luis Jiménez, Jenny Jones.

Hey George W.:
Please fill my tank

Technology center a positive move

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