This page: Th(! existing low-cost Amawn student housing, erected as temporary residences for returning WW II veterans pursuing degrees under the GI Bill. The University wants to demolish these units, and given the present political conditions this would truly be a shame. Alexander's inspiring design for an u'rban community on this site would certainly make a terrific place to live and study - but the University administration does not intend to build it. Given their recent bloody-mindedness ·they would instead probably replace this charming, if flimsy, village with something far worse. It is clear that the University, now try.ing to privatize and attract wealthier students, is gentrifying and distancing itself from its role as public servant, arrogantly looking upon Amazon as an underclass embarrassment. Alexander, unaware ofall this, was abused by the administration towards these ends, as demonstrated by the University's mad efforts to push up the cost ofhis buildings. Consequently, the best reason for preserving the Amazon is political: the buildings are symbolic ofa commitment to public education that Universities around the country are in danger oflosing. The Amazon tenants·are fighting to achieve historic preservation status for the buildings, and tum the site into a student co-op, in that case becoming one ofthe largest in the US. It is a shame that. the University's doubletalk to the press,' elitist power plays against the tenants, and nasty mudslinging against Alexander, made the best solutions impossible: one where the new designs would lead to a beautiful, lowcost student co-op village, perhaps on another site: RAIN Summer 1994 Volume XIV, Number 4 Page 21
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