Spring Break
'Donor's' empty pledge darkens fate of facility
By Bj Nelson
in NewsIssue date: 2/15/07 Section: News
"Larson has stated he is supportive of going out and finding more funding, but we have basically a timeframe of the end of this fiscal year," said Villalobos.
She also said Larson plans to turn the planetarium into classrooms. "The college wants to make use of this space for class instruction. Even after renovation, the college's interest was to hold regular classes in the planetarium theater. The renovation was to make it easier to do that. I have a point of view in which I already see it a classroom, but a specialized classroom. It doesn't have to be stars all the time. It is someplace where you should be able to take advantage of the high technology that already is in there.
"We have had courses in biology in there; we have had courses in continuing education in there. Any type of a program you can set up in a power-point type scenario can be projected up on the screen.
"There are lots of exciting possibilities which you can do with it, like videogaming and digital mass communication. A lot of the newer technologies are digital, so there are things that the students could see here in the dome in a unique environment.
"Poetry readings also can be done out on the dome or music classes using our specialized acoustics."
Villalobos said she has discussed these ideas with college officials.
"There are two aspects to the planetarium. One is the equipment, and as far as the equipment goes, it is older; a lot is in disrepair. The biggest thing has been the Star Projector. It has taken most of the time and efforts over the last two years. keeping up with repairs, financially and with manpower working on it," said Villalobos.
When, on the first few days in February, it become evident to certain people the donor was not coming through with the cash, many people had strong reactions.
"We were dealing with him on and off through his attorney for many, many, many months, in good faith. We were disappointed, to say the least," Kelly said.
She also said Larson plans to turn the planetarium into classrooms. "The college wants to make use of this space for class instruction. Even after renovation, the college's interest was to hold regular classes in the planetarium theater. The renovation was to make it easier to do that. I have a point of view in which I already see it a classroom, but a specialized classroom. It doesn't have to be stars all the time. It is someplace where you should be able to take advantage of the high technology that already is in there.
"We have had courses in biology in there; we have had courses in continuing education in there. Any type of a program you can set up in a power-point type scenario can be projected up on the screen.
"There are lots of exciting possibilities which you can do with it, like videogaming and digital mass communication. A lot of the newer technologies are digital, so there are things that the students could see here in the dome in a unique environment.
"Poetry readings also can be done out on the dome or music classes using our specialized acoustics."
Villalobos said she has discussed these ideas with college officials.
"There are two aspects to the planetarium. One is the equipment, and as far as the equipment goes, it is older; a lot is in disrepair. The biggest thing has been the Star Projector. It has taken most of the time and efforts over the last two years. keeping up with repairs, financially and with manpower working on it," said Villalobos.
When, on the first few days in February, it become evident to certain people the donor was not coming through with the cash, many people had strong reactions.
"We were dealing with him on and off through his attorney for many, many, many months, in good faith. We were disappointed, to say the least," Kelly said.
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