(The Beacon)
By Lizabeth Vogel, Staff Commentary -- The Beacon
Forgive me these few paragraphs in which I defend UP's current library. Everyone has heard the complaints, noticed that tour guides do not take prospective students and parents into the library to avoid embarrassment and has probably been looking forward to a shiny, brand new library. To be frank, this makes me sad.
Due to all the late nights, mid-afternoon naps and papers the library has seen me through, it has become an old and dear friend to me. I often sit at home fretting over a paper due (tomorrow) getting distracted by housemates and television until I concede to the inevitable and throw my laptop and books into my backpack and trudge to Wilson W. Clark Memorial Library.
I journey through the rain, brave the Willamette crosswalk and finally see the library's lights shining like a beacon of warmth and productivity. I get situated, do a quick look around at the other productive students and the ideas flow like manna from heaven.
My muses live in the library. I don't know if it is the brickwork set off by blue walls, the giant windows that let in light, the rows and rows of unread thoughts, the dying plants, the orange desks, the big curling staircase to the second floor, the strange artwork or the bucket chairs that cradle my rear end oh-so-perfectly, but something about that library makes me love it.
Too many people speak badly of the library. It's too old, they should tear it down, it's an embarrassment. I want people to know some of us love the library as it is, not to mention it already fulfills all my needs. Any book I want I can order from Summit, the librarians are happy to help, there are printers, copiers and even a three-hole-punch. When people talk badly about it, it pains my heart as if they are talking about an innocent friend behind his back. I say throw in some more outlets and let the library alone. We don't need some fancy, bleak modern-architecture library. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Elizabeth Vogel is a senior German and English studies major, she can be contacted a
vogel11@up.edu.
(Samantha Heathcote -- The Beacon)
