Last week, Quinnipiac University ended construction on its new outdoor seating and lounge area for the renovated Echlin Center. Unfortunately, I think this addition to the building is an eyesore. It’s out of place and looks sloppy. This idea of modernizing detailed buildings like the brick building of the visitor’s center is just another example of why we have to stop trying to change every building.

The new electrical awning looks like a giant tanning bed, and it’s especially bright at night. As I walked to my night class recently, I was blinded. The structure is out of place as the sunset on the Quad was ruined by a cheap remodel.

Just because it’s new, doesn’t mean it’s good.

The Arnold Bernhard Library is undoubtedly the symbol of Quinnipiac. Why do you think that is? It’s because original buildings are visually appealing, detailed and preserve the authenticity of their surroundings.

The library clock tower was actually constructed differently than it appears today. For decades, the library tower had a metallic Seattle Space Needle-like point that symbolized the heights at which students could soar, according to the university’s website. In popular culture in the mid 20th century, it was common to picture a sleek, metallic, even robotic city with flying cars. To me, that seems like what the university was going for during the original construction.

In 1996, construction on the tower began. The result is the beautiful, tall structure we see today. I consider this a demodernization project. The university abandoned the futuristic look and resorted to a more traditional, antique look that has stood the test of time.

It’s features like the library clock tower that truly showcase the beauty of our school. If the university really wanted to showcase the prettiest places on campus for prospective students, they shouldn’t have added something so new to the visitor center. I don’t see any prestigious universities branding themselves as “new.”

Before we have new details on our buildings, why don’t we use that money to restore their original beauty instead? Part of the reason I was drawn to this school was the secluded village feel of the quad and dorms. It’s upsetting to me that the school feels that they need to modernize everything. I think we need to appreciate the details and little things like the old-style architecture that make this campus so unique.