Although I enjoyed The Chronicle independent Editorial Board's pie-in-the-sky wishes for Central Campus in Jan. 29 editorial, "Central in need of upgrade," let me offer four less expensive, more immediate suggestions to improve Duke's wasteland.
1. Have top administrators spend a semester (or a day) on Central. See what happens.
2. Fix lingering issues: ceiling holes, bathroom water damage and thermostats offering "too cold" or "too hot." Also, replace interior cardboard walls with building material.
3. Change transportation. The C-2 takes forever and doesn't stop on all streets-fun after dusk. Plus, the parking pass is a rip-off: $240 for something local landlords offer free, and no spots on East or West.
4. Consider different paint than the current shade (burnt orange vomit). It will combat that wow-how-did-I-end-up-in-1970s-hell? feeling.
After the Powers that Be have done these things (prediction: never), ask for restaurants and gyms. Because, until then, wish-lists are as useful as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic-which, let's remember, was at least new and clean, unlike Central.
Abby Alger
Trinity '09
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