During the winter vacation, the construction of Foreign Languages Building and the Gymnasium is undergone strenuously. For the former, the outer wall is completed, and the interior decoration is on the way. For the latter, the base construction is working as scheduled. Dean of Office of General Affairs, Ching-jen Hung indicates that the Gymnasium is expected to completed before the May of year 2006, so that the graduates could attend their recommencement ceremony there. The Foreign Languages Building, which is located between Chueh Sheng Memorial Library and Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center, has undergone eight months of construction for the overall structure. Presently, the outlook of FLB is visible. According to the Construction and Repairs Section of Office of General Affairs, by the end of April 2005, we can get the warrant to use that building. Following the schedule, the furniture and other facilities will be installed by the end of May, and the faculty members of the College of Foreign Languages and Literatures as well as the six departmental offices will be moved into the new building after final exam in June.

The site of the Foreign Language Building used to be “Li Che Hall.” It is reorganized for a building complex with one underground and seven floors, which totally provide 1726 pings (522 square meter) of level ground. The new building will facilitate the office for College of Foreign Languages and Literatures, her six departmental offices, offices for faculty members, six foreign language centers, Center for the Studies of Global Languages and Cultures, office for Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and Office of International Exchanges & International Education. As the offices of the college, departments, and faculty member’s move out from Ching Sheng Building and Engineering Building, the vacant space will be reorganized during the summer vacation this year.

Three months ago, the construction of Gymnasium was started. It is designed with one basement and eight floors to facilitate various sport courses, rooms for clubs and student associations, and space for grand joint activities, with a total ground level of 7174 pings (2170 square meter). Presently the base construction is preceded. The appearance of the gymnasium, like that of natatorium, is designed with curtain wall. The main entrance is situated at the back of Educational Building. The parking space is arranged near Ta Chung Street. This gymnasium will be a wonderful gift for the graduates next year. (~Chi-szu Chen)