Renovations continue on three of the main buildings surrounding the Cistern, but the traditional presence of the yard will not be affected for commencement this May.
Scaffolding has almost completely covered Randolph Hall, Porter’s Lodge and the Towell Library since renovations began last October. College officials expect the project to be completed in October 2010.
Graduating seniors are expressing their concerns with the current condition of the Cistern yard.
“All I know is that the work better be done by graduation,” senior Ali LeBel said. “There will be uproar if it’s not.”
Senior Melody Yuan agrees.
“I really hope they are done by May. The Cistern needs to look good for graduation,” Yuan said.
Despite student apprehension, C of C architect Ben Miehe says there is nothing to worry about.
“According to the contract with the workers, they are required to have ‘no-work days.’ These days will be taken during the week of graduation,” Miehe said. “The scaffolding will also be removed for the ceremony.”
 Spring commencement at the College has been held in the Cistern yard for decades. In 2007, the Student Government Association along with C of C board members discussed possibilities for changing the location of graduation due to the increase in enrollment and lack of space. Students quickly rejected the idea. 
Instead, the school began to divide graduation into two ceremonies so everyone could still fit in the Cistern.
“Everything about graduation at the College is so different than anywhere else. I think it’s important the Cistern is in good condition for graduation,” senior Randy Buchanan said.
Although it will take some extra work to prepare the site for graduation, the renovations are necessary for the improvement of the school.
“The construction consists of renovating the exteriors of the buildings and refurbishing the Cistern yard with landscaping, irrigation and lighting,” Miehe said.
The project is costing the school an estimated $3.7 million. South Carolina’s capital improvement department, now called the Capital Budgeting Unit, approved funding for the project. The unit oversees project planning and makes recommendations for funding.  The department helps organizations budget their expenses for projects such as this one. 
Besides graduation, the work has affected other aspects of students’ lives as well.
“It’s sad because I used to like to go to the yard to read or just hang out,” Yuan said. “Now it’s much harder to do that.”
There are approximately 50 other construction or renovation projects around campus at this time, Miehe said. Some are extremely minor while others are hard to miss.
No matter what level of work it takes, Yuan says it is worth the temporary inconvenience.
“If it’s for the greater good of the buildings, then I understand. It will benefit everyone in the long run,” Yuan said.