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to name SCC
buildings
Southeastern Community College will soon break ground on its new technology building, and, with $3 million recently granted by the General Assembly for a biotechnology center, now would be a good time for the SCC trustees to revisit the issue of naming its buildings by something other than letters.
There are two good reasons to name buildings on college campuses. The first is to honor or memorialize those who have made significant contributions to the success of the school.
The second is for money from donors: money that allow a college to complete projects it wouldn’t ordinarily undertake.
Just look at the 1,500-seat Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College, which is arguably the cultural center of Brunswick County. A large contribution by Ocean Isle Developer and multimillionaire Odell Williamson helped to make the building possible.
We doubt there are many community colleges in the Southeast that are as respected or as important as SCC is to Columbus County, and it seems odd that the buildings are still designated by letters, especially when there have been many heroes of the college who have made it what it is today.
Besides, few people other than current students probably have any clue where “M” building is. The current system is a nightmare for the directionally impaired.
Although there may be concerns among trustees that the naming of buildings could cause some controversy, it’s still the right thing to do. (Thank goodness the Lincoln Memorial isn’t designated as Monument “A” and the Washington Monument as Monument “B”).
Also, the college is constantly fighting for capital funds. The new technology building came about only because of the huge statewide college building bond referendum passed several years ago, and the biotech center money came from a one-time special appropriation from the General Assembly. After these two projects, there’s no new money on the horizon unless a generous benefactor or family of a deceased college supporter sees the college for the wonderful memorial opportunity it offers.
The current system of using letters to name buildings seems painfully sterile and anonymous. The fact is, the college’s reputation was built by a cadre of people who devoted many hours and lots of blood, sweat and tears to make it happen.
With two new buildings on the horizon, now seems like the perfect time to make the change.