By Allison Daze, sophomore

Repairs to the Davis Administration Building roof will begin next week, more than 10 months after the summer hailstorm that caused damage all over Friends University’s campus.

Construction crews are building scaffolding around part of the building. They hope to begin putting on the new roof next week, said Ryan Archer, Friends director of purchasing and the staff member managing the Davis building roofing project.

The project will be completed in three sections. First will be the clock tower, followed by the southwest section and finally the northwest section. Archer hopes that the project will be done by November.

The roof is composed of slate tiles, which were broken by the July 8 hailstorm. The new roof will be the same material.

University officials had wanted to use a lighter slate substitute material for the new roof, but after consulting an engineer, they discovered that the weight of the slate tiles helps hold the building’s roof in place.

“We need the heavy slate material,” Archer said.

During construction, the slate and other building materials will be stored in the parking lot behind the Davis building. Consequently, the lot will be closed for the duration of the project.

“It will be the ‘construction site,’ for lack of a better term,” Archer said.

Few students regularly use that particular parking lot, so they will not be greatly affected by its closing, but many have felt the effects of the construction. Though most students understand the situation, they are ready to be done with the mess and for the campus to return to normal.

“I understand,” said junior Amelia Lepping. “But it’s frustrating.”

Sophomore Kaitlin Kliewer commented on the appearance of the black safety fence surrounding the Davis building.

“It doesn’t look terrible, but it’s kind of tacky looking,” she said. “But it’s better than being killed by falling slate.”

Archer said safety is always a big concern, but officials are also concerned with the appearance of the campus.

“We want to make sure that the beauty of Friends University is seen through the construction,” he said.

Haley Alloway, sophomore, appreciates the beauty of the campus and is glad that measures are being taken to maintain it.

“I love the Davis building,” she said. “It’s fun to look at. That’s what I love about our campus.”