Transcript-UNB receives funding for reconstruction

The provincial government poured 3 million dollars for further reconstruction of UNB student services building. Minister of Finance Greg Byrne made the announcement at UNB Jones House this week.

(Greg Byrne,Minister of Finance)

“I am pleased that the Province has been able to contribute to the transformation of Jones House. Jones House has a proud history on UNB campus and although I was not a student on campus certainly I remember very fun memories of Jones House. Actually they used to have a pub here on weekends and I might have been here occasionally.”

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UNB students played an important role in designing renovations. These include computer labs, student counseling services, lounge for international students and wheel chair accessible elevator and washrooms. The student health center was also moved to Jones House. The president of UNB student council Jonathan O’Kane said this would make student life more convenient.

(Jonathan O’Kane,UNB Student Union President)

“I lived in that far bottom corner of the residence in Lady Beaverbrook. At that time I had to carry my four liter jar during the campaign period from the bottom part of campus to the very top of campus and trying to make as much eye contact as I could. So indirectly, I am incredibly excited that no student will ever have to carry their urine from one corner of campus to another.”

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Jones House was built in 1958. At that time it was the first student residence on campus. It was named in honour Cecil Jones who was a UNB president from 1906 to 1940. UNB alumna Althea Macaulay still remembers him as a UNB president.

(Althea Macaulay,UNB alumna)

“Very seriously he said ‘what would you say if I told you that you have won another gold medal. He said it is the most prestigious and one of ours old medals as alumni gold medal. Well, I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t say anything. I was just struck down. And I looked at him and his eyes were dancing and his face was smiling and it was aura of great pleasure and joy, and being such a good messenger, a messenger of good will. I just felt that it was the most wonderful gift that was more meaningful to me than the medal. I thought isn’t he wonderful? And I still think that.”

Renovations have started two years ago. The project cost estimated around five million dollars.

I am Damira Davletyarova, reporting for STU Journalism.

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Posted by Damira Davletyarova on Feb 15, 2010. Filed under Transcripts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.