<b>B for quad destruction</b><br>Walking back from class to my room in B-dorm Tuesday, I was confronted with a disturbing sight. Where a grassy hill had once been, a mound of dirt stood in its place, backhoes and all left resting in the middle of the destruction they had created. Yes, I had seen the spray-painted box laid out in the grass last week, but I had never guessed that a temporary parking lot was to be the end result.

Now don't get me wrong; I am all for the renovation and improvement of Fayerweather Hall. However, as I understood it, this construction project was not scheduled to start until June. Why, then, are we residents of B-dorm being forced to give up our quad for the entire spring?

Being isolated from the social dorm quad and in our own suites with separate entrances, we need this quad to gather and get to know our fellow A- and B-dorm residents. Already we are subjected to the not-so-aesthetically pleasing view of Campus Police and the physical plant to our rear; by turning our once verdant front lawn into a soon-to-be muddy dirt hole, the school is robbing us of our entitled outdoor common space which becomes that much more important in these last warm weeks of school.

I realize that it is now too late for much to be done about this unfortunate situation. I am still confused, however, by the school's choice to destroy this quad just as spring decides to grace us with its presence here in Amherst, not to mention the impending spring weekend which usually prompts the school to bend over backwards in its care of the campus landscaping. I can promise that no prospective applicant will be wooed into choosing Amherst by the sight of torn-up grass and construction equipment.

Dana Currier '02