Groundwork east of MSC to be completed by June
Construction on the fire lane east of the Marshall Student Center (MSC) is moving forward after the initial rubber surface was deteriorating and becoming a safety hazard.
In January, the rubber was removed so concrete could be put in at a later date. Sod was temporarily placed down for the purpose of erosion control and to fill up the area before work began, according to Associate Director of Communications Aaron Nichols.
Concrete was initially expected to be laid down over spring break, he said. However, delays caused by funding availability pushed the start date to May 9, with the project now expected to be completed sometime in June.
Nichols said construction costs total $129,700, with concrete being the chosen material since it requires less maintenance over time, has a lower price tag and is durable.
The sidewalk adjacent to the fire lane will remain open, Nichols said, but the access road behind the MSC is partially shut off to students so work equipment and materials can be stored there by Barr & Barr, the contractor handling construction.
While the initial rubber material was embedded with the words “USF” and “Bulls” with green and gold colors, Nichols said the concrete will be plain and no design will be featured.
More Stories
How funding cuts are affecting USF student orgs, depts
For Carolina Gutfreund, next year’s cuts to student organization funding won’t just shrink the Botanical Gardens Club’s budget — they’ve led her to step down as its president. “The idea of it being bad was just making me so sad because we put a lot of effort into our events,” said Gutfreund, a junior English […]
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is ranked best in the state
USF’s Morsani College of Medicine has been named the top medical school in Florida and ranked among the nation’s best in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The college, now recognized as a Tier 1 institution, is the only medical school in Florida to receive this distinction. Charles Lockwood, the executive vice president […]
USF students reflect on preparedness following FSU shooting
When confetti and champagne popped near the MSC Amphitheater during an Acts of Kindness event on April 24, Ashley Messer froze – afraid she was hearing gunshots. “All I could think for the rest of the event was that I just stood there like a deer in headlights,” said the junior English major. “I didn’t […]
USF rocket team completes most advanced launch in club’s history
Facing budget cuts, loss of resources and logistical setbacks, USF’s Society of Aeronautics and Rocketry completed what its members called the most advanced rocket launch in the club’s 12-year history. Led by computer engineering senior Alvaro Lazaro, SOAR launched its high-powered rocket, Prometheus, during a nationwide NASA Student Launch competition, marking the first time the […]
USF assembles DOGE task force to dig up ‘unnecessary’ spending
USF President Rhea Law has assembled a task force to promote “efficiency, transparency and strategic reinvestment” among university departments and staff. The team will be responsible for managing Florida State Department of Governmental Efficiency requests at USF, according to public records obtained by The Oracle. Gov. Ron DeSantis created the Florida DOGE in February to […]
USF Faculty Senate opposes UP, ICE partnership
The USF Faculty Senate called on USF leadership to withdraw University Police from an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that will allow campus police to enforce immigration laws. During a special Faculty Senate meeting on Friday, senators expressed concerns over how USF’s international community – faculty and students alike – would be […]