Fall 2009

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A Better Talley: The Sooner, The Better
Marycobb Randall, sophomore - Business Management
President of the University Student Centers Board of Directors

The main purpose of a student center is to cater to the needs of students, right? Most students on NC State University’s campus would suggest that this is not reality for them. The current Talley Student Center, completed in 1972, was built to accommodate a student population of 14,000. NC State’s current student population is over 32,000, and enrollment numbers continue to grow.

In addition to growing numbers, students’ needs have significantly changed. In 1972, computers, e-mail, and cell phones did not exist. As students of the new millennium, these items have become tools essential to our success as students. The truth is that the current facility is not meeting the needs of the modern student, so the current Talley Student Center is not being sufficiently utilized. Our student center does not do justice to our University, which has the largest student population of any North Carolina university.

The financial case for addressing these critical needs now is also strong. If Talley remains as is, money will continue to be wasted in the form of building maintenance and expensive repairs. Additionally, construction costs have stabilized in the past months, and in the case of some materials, costs have actually decreased. Designing a building now will enable NC State to be positioned to realize substantial savings when it is time to solicit bids to build the new Talley. Investing in a new, efficient facility that does what it is designed to do is more cost efficient than using “Band-Aids” as temporary fixes.

NC State has a reputation of being an institution of innovation and advancement. Without a doubt, NC State attracts students of high caliber based on rigorous academics and real-world focus. When prospective students visit campus for the first time, they start with a campus tour that begins at the Talley Student Center. Sadly, many prospective students and their families who currently visit Talley Student Center leave disappointed. NC State deserves a first impression that showcases our University’s culture of innovation and advancement.

A new student center is a wise investment because, unlike a science lab or athletic field that is intended to reach a specific group of students, every student can utilize the services and facilities it will provide. The services provided in a new student center will allow students to have access to improved dining and retail options, make more and better spaces available for student group meetings, and serve as a place for all members of the Wolfpack family to come together.

Let’s make it happen! For more information about the Talley Student Center renovation project, go to rally4talley.com.

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