Considering the current physical state of campus, and in particular the UA Mall, our administrators have a difficult choice to make.

During a tour of the underground Integrated Learning Center last Thursday, it was announced that construction on the new facility was more than two-and-a-half months behind schedule. Originally slated for completion next May, the ILC will now not open to students until August. And, considering the surprises and problems associated with a complex project such as this one, that date could easily be pushed back as well.

"This is the first time we've ever done something like this underground," said Brian Dolan, UA construction project manager for the ILC.

So the dilemma facing UA president Peter Likins and ILC construction officials is this - open the completed part of the building for freshman to use next fall and then open the rest of the facility in the spring of 2002, or wait to open the whole thing at once.