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Future Of Norris Hall Could Be Decided Soon

December 10, 2007

By Rex Bowman

A decision on what to do with Norris Hall, the Virginia Tech building where a gunman killed 30 students and teachers, could come as early as this week, according to university officials.

A task force considering two proposals on the building's future presented its recommendation to Tech President Charles W. Steger late Friday.

School spokesman Mark Owczarski said Steger will ponder the recommendation this weekend and could decide to accept or reject it this week or next.

"He's going to read it, mull it and talk about it," Owczarski said.

One proposal the task force weighed calls for creating an Institute for Transformative Learning in 4,500 square feet inside Norris, where classes were once held and engineering departments had their offices. The institute would house two centers - the Center for Violence Prevention and Peace Studies and the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships.

The second proposal the task force considered, from the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, calls for using the space to consolidate department operations and create videoconferencing, research and laboratory facilities for students.

The fate of the building has been up in the air since April 16, when student Seung-Hui Cho fatally shot 30 students and teachers in four classrooms on the building's second floor. Cho then killed himself. Earlier, he had killed two students inside a dorm room at West Ambler Johnston Hall.

Owczarski said Steger could arrange a meeting with the task force next week to go over details of its recommendation. Provost Mark McNamee, chairman of the task force, is not commenting on its recommendation, according to his secretary.

Rex Bowman can be reached at rbowman@timesdispatch.com