Students may have thought that the sounds of construction were over after the CETA building’s expected completion over the summer of 2019. However, SNHU has decided to take on yet another project over the summer which may extend into the fall semester. Due to an immeasurable amount of complaints about the frigid weather in the winter, the administration of SNHU has decided to install an underground tunnel system.
According to University Campus President, Patty Lynott, the inspiration for the tunnel system came from other colleges in New York and the Midwest who also have to deal with copious amounts of snow over the winter. SNHU hopes to include a heating system in the tunnels like many of the other schools have.
“We have had so many students complain about their chances of catching hypothermia or losing limbs or getting sick,” Lynott said. “We’re essentially trying to promote a more positive environment by reducing the amount of complaints that students and faculty hear every day.”
Students will be able to enter and exit the tunnel system through various staircases which will lead into buildings such as Robert Frost, Webster Hall, the Student Center and all residence halls.
According to Lynott, some residence directors and resident assistants expressed concerns about security by allowing the tunnels to lead into residence halls. However, Lynott gave assurance that there will still be card access required to enter the residence halls from the tunnel system.
“We still want our students to feel safe,” Lynott said. “Our goal is simply to make their experience during the winter easier.”
Lynott mentioned that this project has actually been in the works for about a decade. However, it came to a standstill after construction workers impeded upon the lands of Moleville, a small city located underneath the school. Yet, just last summer, Monty Mole, the mayor of Moleville, signed a treaty with SNHU’s administration which will allow the tunnels to be built.
“They’ve been very kind, actually,” said Lynott. “They’re even offering to have some helpful directors throughout the tunnels to help give their people jobs and provide snacks or hot chocolate for students passing through.”
Mole expressed his excitement for the tunnels to be built and shared that the people of Moleville will be happy to help SNHU students in any way they can.
“We formally want to apologize to the administration of SNHU for taking so long to agree on the treaty terms,” Mole said. “After careful consideration, we realized that the underground tunnel system would benefit our people just as much as the SNHU community. We look forward to the interactions that will be had and relationships which will be formed between our two species.”
Construction on the tunnel system is expected to start in August of 2019, and is predicted to be completed by the end of September 2019.
Mole shared that the SNHU administration was shocked at the timeline he presented because it’s so short. However, he assured that with the help of his workers, the system will be completed within the time allotted.
“Us moles can dig very fast and very deep,” he said. “I know that my workers will not be able to stop until the system is complete. The ground is also very rich in earthworms which is our favorite treat, so that will keep them going for days at a time.”