Last week, it was reported that Baker University Center has to add a two-story, $722,000 addition to accommodate the need for storage and comply with health department codes. Ohio University hopes to begin construction by the end of this quarter. Ah, OU's fiscal responsibility and foresight in action.
No one has yet explained why exactly these problems were not discovered until construction was almost finished. Director of Implementation Richard Shultz did not return phone calls from The Post, so all we can do is speculate. But it seems pretty clear that one of two things likely happened: Either no one asked the people in charge what Baker Center needed, or those in charge fumbled in their planning.
The first situation seems entirely plausible ' Baker seems to have far too little of what's necessary and far too much of what isn't. If that's the case, it does not inspire confidence in those who designed the building. However, it may be the second situation, and the officials in charge didn't check health department codes before building. While that also does not inspire much confidence, it is certainly not unexpected. Dining Dollars was a colossal failure resulting in a nearly $1 million deficit, and West 82 and Latitude 39 will likely be replaced someday after they, too, prove to be a waste of money.
Either way, the $722,000 mistake was made. A mistake of that magnitude should be explained and the person responsible held accountable. But no one at OU should hold his or her breath waiting for either of these to happen ' they don't serve humble pie anywhere in Baker Center.
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Lack of Baker planning has a big cost
