Signs point students nowhere

“We recognized last year we need new signs,” said Sheeley.

Katelyn Fillion, a freshman, history major, said that since she is a commuter, it is hard for her to find her way around campus since she is not at Southern all the time.

“I have the map on my person,” said Fillion.

Sheeley said the last time the signs were changed was over 10 years ago, and that they are not changed often.

There are two directional signs on campus that have an arrow towards where Seabury Hall used to be. One due west of Buley Library and one just south of Morrill Hall.

According to archives from the school’s social media accounts, the demolition of Seabury was begun in October of 2012.

“Current plans call for the area to be filled in,” reads a 2012 Facebook post, “leveled and paved for possible temporary parking.”

Southern News first reported on the building’s demolition on Oct. 9, 2012, citing lack of usage, and minor health risks as two motivating factors. The building, constructed in 1956, used asbestos for insulation, according to the article, and was prone to growing mold in several areas.

True to the aforementioned plan, the area Seabury Hall used to occupy is now a gravel parking lot, serving as overflow for the Lyman Center.

Sheeley said that those signs should have been taken down with the demolition of Seabury Hall and that they have recently hired a consultant who is making a signage package to update all of signs since they realized.

Another outdated sign, just between Engleman Hall and Morrill Hall, points students to the Red Bird Buildings, which were previously located at the site of the new School of Health and Human Services building.

“I parked in Wintergreen; it was hard getting here,” said Fillion, standing in front

of Buley Library for new student events.

“The landmarks help.”

Signs are not usually changed unless there has been new construction, according to Sheeley, like demolition of old buildings or construction of new buildings. Also, he said, new signs are made if old ones are faded enough where they are making a bad visual impact on campus.

Katherine Astarita, freshman marketing major, said that she is not nervous for the campus, even as a freshman and even though the signs are out of date.

With the tough financial situation right now, and with the approval of the importunacy of the project pending, there is no set deadline for directional signs to be changed, Sheeley said.

Astarita noted that the change is necessary nonetheless, saying, “they should really update their signs.”