| Description | Telling Dr Perkins that 'I think that it is a matter of great importance to our program to be able to accept the NASA money. Not only do we have great need for such a building (the present space is already very tight despite the completion of Clark Hall) but there is also the aspect that with a NASA financed building Cornell would be regarded by NASA as a major contributor to the NASA space effort ... I would therefore be very disturbed if the present problems interrupted our plans, especially as I feel that the NASA grants office will regard this as one more difficulty with Cornell, on top of the string of difficulties of the past. To decrease the size of the building or to cut down substantially on its amenities would, I think, be a mistake. The present proposal is by no means too large in view of the rapidly expanding field, the increase in demand for Phd's and the great increase in the number of excellent applicants for graduate studies that we have. The proposed building is not particularly expensively designed for a modern laboratory building, and not much could be saved there without lowering the standards unreasonably for present day circumstances. If it were possible to proceed now with the remaining funds raised as loans, I believe that we would be able to find donors with a year, who would close the gap'. |