By Cy Ryan (contact)

Sun, Nov 13, 2005 (7:03 a.m.)

CARSON CITY -- Maude Frazier Hall at UNLV, the first structure on campus, is going to be partially demolished, rather than renovated.

UNLV has $354,600 allotted for renovations, but the Legislative Interim Finance Committee agreed Wednesday to a UNLV plan to use that money for furniture and equipment for the new student services building to be constructed on the campus.

Gerry Bomotti, vice president of finance at UNLV, said given the size and condition of Frazier Hall "it makes sense to demolish and not renovate it." A small section will be retained for services.

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, noted that the first building on campus was named after a longtime educator and lieutenant governor.

"There has been no resistance to tearing it down as long as some other place on campus is dedicated to Frazier, Coffin said.

Bomotti said some other "significant part of the campus" will be named after Frazier.

Dan Klaich, executive vice-chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, told Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, "We won't be back" to ask the 2007 Legislature for furniture and equipment money for the new student services unit.

The bids on the new structure have not been received yet, Klaich said.

The committee also approved going forward with the $25 million classroom building and learning center at the West Charleston campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

The law passed by the 2005 Legislature authorized $20 million. The college was to come up with the other $5 million, but has been unable to raise the funds. There had been talk about scrapping the library to reduce the cost.

But Klaich said the 65,000- to 70,000-square-foot building was "critical" to the campus and it should not be downsized.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, complained that the university system promises to raise private funds and then never delivers. She citied the dental school at UNLV and the Nevada State College at Henderson. There had been pledges to raise millions for these projects, but the money didn't materialize.

She suggested university officials tell the Legislature up front they won't be able to raise the money.

Klaich replied that nobody from the university system told the 2005 Legislature it could raise the $5 million for the community college building. He said that provision was included in the closing days of the Legislature.

Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.