DOVER, Del. - Changes could soon be coming to Delaware State University in Dover.
"We have some other projects going on in the city of Dover, but this would be the largest project with Delaware State," said Bill Neaton, director of economic development for the City of Dover. Neaton was referred to a proposed convocation center for DSU.
DSU spokesman Carlos Holmes said this project should be a benefit to more than the university.
"We need to look at a feasibility study for the entire central Delaware community, as well as the state of Delaware," Holmes said.
For a third straight year, the university has seen a record number of students, and some say a new convocation center is desperately needed.
"A couple of years ago, we went back to holding commencements inside our gym and we had to split them up between three commencements because we just didn't have room for all the graduates we had," Holmes said.
"We're getting more and more students and the extra building would be more space for us," said Darielle Lemon, a DSU student.
Others say there are more important needs than a convocation center.
"I think our money can go toward other things like fixing the buildings we have, supporting our teachers because we're understaffed and things like that, not for entertainment purposes," said Antoinette Dorsey, another DSU student.
But others make the point that the center will help boost the appeal of Dover.
"We have exposure for NASCAR, but as far as anything else it's really all they get is NASCAR," said Tiffany Trawick, also of DSU. "It's something that the city of Dover and Kent County really need."
Neaton says the convocation center could also help boost tourism in the county.
Holmes said state funding has been received to begin a feasibility study to determine if and when the arena can be built.
(Photo: WBOC)
