University President Michael Gottfredson heard the findings of a select committee he created to examine the proposed expansion of the Erb Memorial Union Thursday morning. According to University spokesperson Joe Mosley, Gottfredson made no decision on the matter, leaving parties involved with the EMU wondering what will happen now.
Gottfredson charged the committee during the summer to research how to reduce the cost to renovate the EMU. The expansion would cost an estimated $130 million paid with state bonds.
If the expansion were to take place, students would pay a $79 fee every term to pay off the bonds necessary to fund the project, according to Wendy Polhemus, the EMU interim director.
During Thursday’s meeting, Gottfredson didn’t indicate to the committee if he would endorse another attempt to expand the EMU. Since taking office on August 1, Gottfredson has not indicated whether he supports the EMU expansion plan.
Given the cost and importance of the project, Gottfredson’s public position on the plan would be one of the first major decisions of his term at the University.