By John D. Harden, Staff Writer

Published Sep. 17, 2014

UNCG’s newest eyesore, the pedestrian underpass, is yet another example of the misappropriation of funds by UNCG’s administration.

As many of you know, the underpass, which is now connecting campus to Lee Street, does only more to heighten the senses of anxiety and discomfort to the localized student body.

And for many of you wondering if the tunnel has been completed, I’m here to tell you that it has.  With that being said, you’re probably confused as to why it connects two of the most arbitrary locations that are “technically” a part of the UNCG campus.

Beginning somewhere between the Oakland deck and MHRA, then it routes under the train tracks and spits out adjacent to the future site of our unneeded, way too expensive Rec center.

It also sits directly beside our brand-new, state-of-the-art, incomplete campus police substation that will not be fully operational for another month.

So, the overarching goal of this administration appears to be to expand campus life beyond the old imaginary boundary that is sketchy, old Lee Street.

The expansion would conceivably bring more prosperity to the grief-stricken industrial remains of the “Lee St./High Point Reinvestment Corridor”.

And the simple fact that this strip has been redubbed, as a “Reinvestment Corridor” should illustrate to everyone the faulty conceptualization proposed by an ignorant collection of decision-makers.

This faulty conceptualization I am referring to is the notion that only a few people, just by pumping money into a desolate region, can act as a catalyst to the immediate revitalization of that particular area.

Unfortunately, in many cases beforehand, this has not been the method by which to renew industry and business in a downtrodden area.

In relation to the underpass, this surge of money to the area by a few contributors – namely, students or parents who are willing to shell out top dollar for a shiny Loft on Lee – has exhibited only heartache to the plausible successes waiting only across campus.

Of course, it would seem that the building of enormous and costly apartment complexes has actually not served as an immediate benefactor to the growth of our community or university as a whole; mainly because many students have no idea to the existence or justifications behind such projects.

Even students who have lived in the city for mere months have their own qualms with the recent developments.

“I think it will have the opposite effect [of what was intended],” said Sean Higgins, the President of Spartan TV.

He expanded by telling me, “It will give people the opportunity to commit crimes below street level.” Sentiments such as these express a general concern by students regarding the effectiveness and public perception of the pedestrian underpass.

It is my belief that students who have made the decision to live on Lee Street have physically isolated themselves from what has always been known as UNCG’s campus.

Now, it should be noted, the university has incorporated certain portions of Lee Street.

This, however, seems to be an insincere defense mechanism by the administration to push for expansion, as well as a clandestine method by which to capitalize on student housing.

According to information available on Rent.com, the average cost for apartment living in Greensboro is $650 per month.  To combat this cost, many students choose to rent together to bring rent costs down to as low as $300 per person every month.

So, you may save money with the university’s exclusive living rates, especially if you live with another person.

However, I feel as though this will be counteracted by both the location and atmosphere of your surroundings.

By living off of Lee Street you’ll  not only be living at one of the farthest points from main campus, but the possible routes to get you to class include: the underpass, busy Aycock Road, student transit, or any other path you can blaze yourself, which will ultimately end in discomfort and annoyance.

So before jumping on the university band-wagon, it never hurts to do a little research yourself.