by Amani Rashid –
The Domes, established in 1972, serve as affordable on-campus housing with rent averaging at only about $250. Some unique amenities offered by this community, which houses 28 students, are; organic gardens, community potlucks, a horseshoe arena, and a greenhouse.
So why is it then, that this fantastical, Davis defining landmark is looking to face extermination come July? Simply put, they are not ADA approved, and furthermore, it would cost an estimated 1 million dollars to bring the Domes community up to code.
However, the “Domies”, as the residents are often referred to, did not go down without a fight. They argued that the costs were grossly inflated so as to reappropriate the land. They commissioned their own engineers for a second opinion on the matter and found that the Domes could be fixed, short-term, for the relatively low cost of $5000.
The Domies have also argued that the Domes community has strong alumni support indicating that the experience one gains from living in the Domes is so profound that it is worth preservation. They have urged the university to allow them to perform touch ups in the now, as a long-term solution is decided. Nonetheless, Student Housing is relentless and insists that short-term fixes are just not an option.
Students, many of which did not even know the Domes existed, have been surprisingly unsupportive of their preservation. “Until this conversation I didn’t even know what the Domes were so I really don’t think they are as ‘campus defining’ as we would like them to be; so I say we not waste money on a lost cause and invest it in I don’t know, say classes that keep getting cut.” These were the words so matter-of-factly spoken by Brittany Cruz, a third year biomedical engineer.
Other students agree: “I want to be sympathetic but when I have things to worry about like paying rent and which class necessary for my major is about to go next I can’t bring myself to support possibly wasteful spending on the dorms.” These words spoken by Chris Drake, a second year political science major, seemed to be the general sentiment harbored by most students.
One student, Lily Rivas, a third year chemical engineer, went so far as to call “the Domes cause” selfish: “So they want to waste time, money and resources on something which benefits a grand total of 28 students. That just seems kind of selfish; I’m not sure what else could potentially be done with the money but there has to be something with a bigger scope.”
As ideal as it may be, preserving the Domes for historical, landmark reasons may be superfluous with landmarks such as, the co-ops, the egg heads, and even the social science and humanities building (AKA the Death Star) serving the same campus-defining purpose. With my classes on the chopping block and my tuition rising, maybe it is best to trust Student Housing’s judgment.
However, not all students feel that way: “This is a clear cut case of ‘the man’ picking on the little guy to get what he wants out of him; I’m not convinced they need to go.” Kelly Young, a fourth year communications major, stated this as she shook her head with disbelief when informed of the costs associated with the Domes restoration.
“I know it only houses 28 people but if that’s taken away you’ve rendered 28 people homeless; plus, why would we want to take one of the more aesthetically organic plots on campus and turn that land into another concrete building housing more college bureaucracy.” These were the cries of Mike Heinrich, a second year physics major, who has a friend currently residing in the Domes and his friend swears by them.
No matter what is fact and what is conspiracy theory, the reality of the situation is that at the start of July the Domies have to pack up and hit the road. As a last ditch effort to cling to the struggling breaths of the Domes life force a Sustainable Living/Learning task force has been initiated.
This task force includes: campus architect Clayton Halliday, assistant professor of community and regional development Ryan Galt; and associate director of Student Housing Mike Sheehan, to name just a handful of those dedicated to finding a middle ground. The task force serves primarily to plot a new vision of the Domes community and how it will support Davis’ sustainability objectives. The effort has been termed “Domes 2.0”.
But the real pressing question which I know is on everyone’s mind is, if the creators of the Domes set out to replicate the Shire from the Lord of the Rings (which I’m quite positive they did as made apparent by all the greenery and the dome shaped housing). Why is it than, that the land is called “Baggins End” instead of “Bag End” as it is titled in the book?
The Domes have been falsely portrayed as costly to fix, when in fact they have been self-funded through rents since their inception in 1972.
In 2006, Student Housing doubled their administrative charges for the program from $10k to $20k per year (roughly 1/3 of the budget). Students were told at that time they were being charged an additional $10k/year for “long-term planning”…Student Housing took the money, but where’s the long-term planning?
Student Housing refuses to take responsibility for planning they failed to perform and for the $40k in admin charges levied to the program over the past 4 years; they refuse to account for the weekly activities of the staff person who gets 40% of her salary paid by the Domes and Tri-Coop programs, and is broadly considered to be incompetent…too bad it’s impossible to get fired on campus.
Like Student Housing, you’d be able to cite health and safety problems if you had neglected to keep up your rental property for 4 years. This isn’t a budget problem; it’s a management problem. Join w/ the residents of the Domes and demand that our public servants get off their asses and provide the services they promise!
This article is full of misinformation. Even Student Housing only estimates the costs of ADA compliance at $308,000 (not 1 million). I’m appalled that the writer of this article spread more misinformation to other students at the university via the interview process. I’m further appalled that the writer of this article failed to even contact anyone at the Domes. Please check out a much more researched article at: http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1936161.
I read with great interest the article you just referred to above. It says a million. Yes it is all inflated of course, what do you expect from a top heavy system full of wasteful bureaucrats? I hope the task force can accomplish something good.
[b]Amani[/b], whose responsibility has it been to maintain these buildings since 1972? Makes a big difference in deciding which party deserves our support in the current dispute.
How about code-compliant, replacement tiny houses for the area? A couple a year. Cutting edge innovation and education opportunities. Keep the best of the old domes for historical and research purposes. Instead, now, you wanna give it away? Well, pave Bag End and put up a parking lot. Don’t it always seem to go….
JS: “Amani, whose responsibility has it been to maintain these buildings since 1972? Makes a big difference in deciding which party deserves our support in the current dispute.”
From what I have read, it is the students’ responsibility to maintain the domes – up to a point. Maintenance of major structural soundness, that sort of thing, would not be considered normal maintenance the students would be responsible for. Interesting question tho…
The irony! Village Homes residents and other west davis people block West Village from using Russell Blvd. The university takes traffic by domes, doesn’t want people to say what is this weird scene when the parents visit, and gets rid of the domes. Bottom line one alternative 60’s-70’s housing development helps kill another.