Two Alums on Monmouth's New MAC

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University received final approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment for construction of the Multipurpose Activity Center on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2007.
The approved building plan for the proposed 152,400 square foot MAC includes seating for 4,122 people and a parking and traffic plan that joins the Monmouth University and West Long Branch police department that will be used when 3,000 or more spectators are expected at an event.
One of the biggest issues both current and past students of the university have with the new building is the parking situation. The plans call for a small parking lot to be built near the new facility for event parking. The university has not said if this parking lot will be available for regular use by commuter students.
Jaime Cannici, a Monmouth alumnus from the class of 2003, believes that the proposed center could have both positive and negative effects on the campus and university as a whole.
“If it is done right, I think it will be a very good thing for the school,” she said, “but if they mess up on the parking plan, it’s going to be a complete mess.”
Ross Maczack, a Monmouth alumnus from the class of 2004, agrees, but feels that there may be more negative effects on the campus community.
“I think that it might bring in more students for the sports teams that will use this new facility,” he said, “but that might not be a good thing. The campus is already strained by the current students, so adding any would make getting around campus impossible.”
The university plans to bring in approximately 12 capacity events each year, and will also allow the community to rent the space when not in use for university functions for free.
“It seems like they are trying to kiss up to the surrounding residents when they say they’ll happily give the space away to community groups,” Maczack said, “but I really think that the university won’t honor that. I’d be really surprised to see the school let someone else use it more than once a year.”
Both alumnae are worried about the impact the construction will have on the campus, and especially on the commuter parking lot, located near to the proposed building site.
“If the university thinks that the commuter students will be okay with having some of their few parking spots taken for the construction, they are sorely mistaken,” Cannici said. “The students don’t care that in a few years, they’ll have this cool new building. Parking takes precedent over anything on campus when you’re a commuter student.”
Others question the need for such a large building, and question why the school is retaining the old Boylen gymnasium.
“Monmouth is a small school in the middle of the Jersey shore. We’re not Rutgers, and we’re not Seaton Hall,” said Cannici. “I wish the administration would get it through their heads that, no matter what you build or what new degree you offer, we will always be a small school. This campus isn’t equipped to be anything else and I wish they’d understand that and stop trying to destroy our campus.”