UTEP admits error in demolition application, clarifies campus plan

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — The University of Texas at El Paso acknowledged Thursday that at least two campus buildings will be demolished, despite saying otherwise earlier this week.

Earlier this week, a community member spoke in County Commissioners Court voicing his concerns about a presentation of the campus master plan that UTEP’s president made, showing a map with several buildings slated for demolition.

When reached for comment, UTEP said the university did not plan to demolish the buildings as part of its plan to transform and modernize the campus, and added that the presentation was misinterpreted.

UTEP Vice President of Marketing and Communications Lucas Roebuck said, “We’re sorry that people were confused by this, that (the community member) and others were confused by this. But that was never the plan.” Let us add that the slide was supposed to show that the “demolition” inscription on the buildings describes the condition of the buildings, and not the course of action of the university.

“Dr. Wilson was trying to emphasize that we have a lot of deferred maintenance,” Roebuck said. “And I think someone said that this slide kind of illustrated that point, and so they added it to the presentation.”

Despite those comments, however, UTEP acknowledged Thursday that at least two buildings, including Union West, will be demolished.

When asked about this discrepancy, Roebuck said UTEP’s position is not large-scale demolition, as suggested by a community member who testified in County Commissioners Court.

“Of course you want to question the accuracy of it, and that’s okay. But the idea is that statements were made at the county commission meeting that this entire list of buildings would be torn down, and that’s simply not true, Roebuck said.

UTEP said President Wilson will ultimately have the final say on any future changes to the campus.