Ten shiny shovels and 9 white hard hats, one of which was a Wolf Pack hard hat, were lined up in the small parking lot across Cates Avenue from Tucker Residence Halls, ready to be used in the dirt as First Year College broke new ground for their new building Tuesday.

This new three-story building, planned to open summer 2007, will house the 24-hour service desk, 24-hour computer lab and three classrooms on the ground floor.

The second floor will house the FYC advising staff. The third and final floor will have the transition program, service learning and Study Abroad Office.

Provost Larry Nielson opened the ceremony with a few words about the meaning of the new building, getting laughs from his concrete pun.

“We are showing our concrete commitment to student affairs,” Nielson said. “Students first and students always.”

Stafford agreed with Nielson’s comment when he gave a brief statement of the significance of the building.

“This building is a wonderful example of partnership. It is a collaboration between student affairs, housing, academic affairs and First Year College,” Stafford said. “It will enhance what we can do in FYC and provide more rooms for First Year College students.”

This new building will allow the admittance of about 46 new freshmen into the FYC program.

Karen Hauschild, associate director of FYC, emphasized the teamwork needed to accomplish the goal of the building.

“It’s a culmination of a long-time partnership between University Housing and First Year College,” Hauschild said.

Hauschild said moving the advising offices across the street may discourage students from going to the advisors in slippers and pajamas.

Although students may miss that convenience, some students like Whitney Watson, freshman in FYC and member of the FYC student council, see the promise in this new addition.

“The First Year College program is new and the building takes it to a new level,” Watson, said.

Jennifer Shultz, a FYC student who recently matriculated into the college of agriculture and life sciences, said that there was a benefit to being in the comfy program.

“First Year College helped me look at different professions and my interests. It was a lot of busy work, but when it comes down to it, it really did help,” Shultz said.

Some students said they can attest to the validity of Provost Nielson’s statement through their personal experiences with First Year College and advisors.

“Students first and students always,” Nielson said.