It Gets Better Later

Things at GRCC seem to get better after I've gone through. For instance, Spanish 101 last winter covered seven chapters of the textbook. Now, they've re-worked the entire program and now 101 has only six chapters to study. (Something that would have been more than welcome when I was enrolled in 101!

Another area of the college that got better was the first floor of the Cook Building (formally North Building). Thanks to a generous donation by the Cook family, GRCC was able renovate, update and remodel the entire first floor. I wish I had "before" pictures to show you just how impersonal, industrial and "yucky" looking it was. 1Cook is used for math classes. I am now done taking math credits. However, here's what the new 1Cook looks like now:

There are wider areas, the math lab is now right past the elevators and there is now a heavy usage of glass to separate classrooms, not concrete and drywall. There are tones of orange and green, which, combined with the glass, makes it a very modern Grand Rapids location.

Here's a peek inside one of the classrooms. Notice that the walls are no longer stark white!

This picture is a little blurry, but notice how the detail on the glass is stylized. This is making a bit of a over-dramatic statement, but the closest thing I can think of to compare the glasswork to is the CTU offices on television's 24.

This donation was just for 1Cook, so the other 4 floors will have to remain industrial and cold war-ish for the time being. Classrooms throughout the Main building were redecorated last year, bringing in new carpet and tables, painted the walls a nice tan color and installed newer technology, mainly for PowerPoint slides. (R.I.P., Overhead Projectors.)

I can't wait until the announcement is made that GRCC will be getting a huge donation to expand the campus and renovate all floors - after I graduate.