Students express concern about a whole bunch of holes

New holes in the ground have opened up over the past few years during the University’s construction boom, usually tucked within residential areas on campus or large construction sites. However, the latest to crop up has defied norms and created a large and noticeable presence in front of Firestone Library, one of campus’s most notable sites.

The hole, located next to a prominent walking path on the west side of Firestone Library facing East Pyne, is a standard maintenance excavation to replace electrical switchgear equipment, according to Director of Facilities Communications Karen Fanning.

“The work is anticipated to be complete by the end of November and the area will be restored to its original [lawn] condition,” she wrote in an email to The Daily Princetonian. She also noted, “It is standard operating procedure to have the area marked out before digging these small holes.”

Students held mixed reactions about the project. Ahania Soni ’27 told the ‘Prince’ in an interview, “If they have to construct things I respect that, but it is a little annoying. This is my safe space, and I do feel like the hole intrudes a little bit.”

Conversely, Ryan Moores ’28 told the ‘Prince,’ “I honestly didn’t even notice the hole until you mentioned it. There’s so much construction going on all the time that it’s become a new normal.”

When asked about campus construction as a whole, Toussaint Santicola Jones ’25 said he felt “the construction could be stuff that’s done quickly over summer or winter.”

“I feel like they [dig holes] in the middle of times when people are touring,” Santicola Jones continued. “New students are coming and they’re like, ‘what the hell is gonna be happening the whole time we’re here?’”

In response to Jones’ comment, Fanning explained that “in some cases, work orders that are submitted to Facilities require immediate attention that cannot wait until the summer.”

Several other holes have appeared around campus in connection with smaller construction projects. On Elm Drive outside of Whitman College, chalk markings show areas that will be dug up to evaluate existing utilities, which is an ongoing procedure throughout the year.

Additionally, a hole on the west side of Jadwin Hall is the result of waterproofing repairs outside the B-level of Jadwin Hall. Fanning says that the area will be restored after the project is complete, which should be by the end of December.

Fanning told the ‘Prince’ that excavated areas are carefully selected to minimize disturbance to campus.

“Facilities plans and schedules as much work as reasonable over the summer and tries to limit campus impact to the greatest extent throughout the year,” Fanning said.