The Drill Field could receive a $30,000 facelift if the Student Association Executive Committee approves a proposal made by the Greek organizations.
Mike White, dean of students and chair of the campus planning and development committee, said the campus planning committee recently passed the proposal for a new, bigger flagpole on the Drill Field with lighting and elaborate landscaping.
Now the proposal has been put on the agenda for the November meeting of the executive committee. If it receives final approval there, a flagpole that gains more attention will be constructed, White said.
“It will draw more attention because we will have a much bigger flag and flagpole, and it will have lighting and nice landscaping around it,” White said. “The new lighting will also allow us to fly the flag all the time.”
The fraternities and sororities on campus have made a commitment to fund the entire project as a gift to the school, White said.
Heidie Lindsey, assistant director for student life, said the proposed project would cost around $30,000. Each of the three Greek organizations, the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, will be responsible for a third of the cost for the project.
They will then divide that amount among the members within their group. This means that instead of the Greek organizations paying for their part of the project the individual members of these groups will be paying for it.
“The project will actually be paid for over four semesters, and each member will be assessed according to the total number of members of their respective organizations,” Lindsey said. “The Greek members are basically paying for this out of their own pockets.”
President of the IFC Wes Ryals said that Vice President of Student Affairs Jimmy Abraham originally presented the idea for this project to the Greeks last fall.
“It’s been a long time since the Greek system has given a big gift to the university,” Ryals said. “Dr. Abraham presented it to us and asked if we were interested in helping fund it. We decided that it was a good idea and something that needed to be done.”
The Greeks then began working on ideas for the project in the spring and made the official proposal this fall, Ryals said.
Abraham said that he is grateful that the organizations supported his idea and decided to fund the project.
“It is going to be very visible, and it will greatly enhance the appearance of the Drill Field,” Abraham said. “This project really shows the generosity of the Greek organizations on campus and their members.”
Lindsey said the Greek organizations see this project as an opportunity to give something back to MSU.
“This project will completely change the look and structure of the Drill Field and will be there for a long time,” Lindsey said.
Each of the chapters that contribute will have its name inscribed on a plaque near the new flagpole.