ECU trustees name library

GREENVILLE, NC  —   The Board of Trustees passed proposals to name to two rooms and a library facility and to reconstruct a landmark feature from one of ECU’s first buildings at an abbreviated meeting March 19.

The Board had changed its meeting time and part of its agenda to accommodate the members attending the NCAA basketball game in Winston-Salem late Thursday evening. In its session on Friday afternoon the board approved a proposal by Max Ray Joyner to name the Health Sciences Library in honor of former dean William E. Laupus. Dr. Laupus was the first dean of the Medical School. He joined ECU in 1975 and retired in 1989.

Proposals were also passed to name two conference rooms in the Joyner Library addition after former U.S. Senator Robert Morgan and after the late U.S. Senator John East. Morgan, an ECU alumnus, served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1958 – 1973. East taught political science at ECU from 1964 – 1980.

The board also took action on some projects that will give a new look to parts of the campus.

The trustees authorized a capital improvement project for the design and construction of the Old Austin Cupola to be rebuilt on a site in front of Mendenhall Student Center. The cupola once crowned the original Austin Building, the first building constructed on the campus on the site where the Jenkins Fine Arts Center is located now. Old Austin was demolished in 1968. Construction of the Cupola is expected to cost about $250,000. It will be funded through private donations.

Expansion of the Wright Soda Shop and Plaza was also approved at a cost of $997,700. Funding for the improvement will come from food service revenues and excess debt service reserves for the 1987 Student Union bond issue.

Several repair projects were approved along with a plan to place 1,700 bleacher seats at the east end of Ficklen Stadium. Costs for the seats will be paid by the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club).