Miguel Moreno and Anthony Tristan
As you may have noticed, this year the mere suggestion of traveling to a class in the Piper Building can bring out looks of shock and horror from even the most hardened Saint Mary’s students. Just the prospect of making the long trek through Boole Gymnasium, walking unprotected in the blazing Arizona sun along the curved sidewalk at the west end of Saint Mary’s Way and then enduring that long, hot stretch across the blacktop in the student parking lot, before finally collapsing into the cool air conditioning just inside the doors of Piper, has led more than one student – and even a few teachers – to dream of the day when we can once again make that easy stroll between classes while gracefully pursuing our liberal arts education unfettered by the worry of arriving late (and sweaty) for class.
Certainly, the new courtyard will be a welcome addition to our campus. The completed project will include streetlights, a grass area, a courtyard, a walkway, and trees that will grow for many years to come. There will be a beautiful view from the parking lot to the Arch, as well as numerous places to sit and to converse about the latest Seat of Wisdom reading assignment.
However, for now, more than a few Saint Mary’s students have felt themselves becoming frustrated with the “big hike” between classes. Manu Knights share the feelings of senior Ignacio Marquez who says the construction “makes me feel separated from the rest of the school,” whenever he travels over to Piper for class. Fortunately, construction supervisors at the site expect the project to be completed before the end of November.
Til then, we’ll all have to endure. Til then, we’ll all have to endure.
