The Thursday groundbreaking for the new student residence halls is one of the first few steps in President Alexander Gonzalez’s plan to transform Sacramento State into more than students’ “backup” choice and a commuter campus.

Clearly, the president wants to stray away from this.

How? He has planned residence hall “suites” that tempt students to live on campus and full-scale recreational and sports facilities, where students can feel guilty about not going to after eating a Double Whooper and perhaps watch some basketball in a nice gym.

But one question that is hardly asked or answered: How does the student, who has already started paying for a recreation center, benefit from a pile of dirt?

How about the prospect of pride? True, most students now will not reap the benefits from a recreation center or student housing. But, down the line, if Gonzalez’s vision is consummated, this school will be one to boast about.

Current students, who will be alums, can also look forward to attending games at a new, fresh gym and possibly an upgraded football stadium.

Located at the now-demolished Foley Hall, the new residence hall promises students a suite-type living area, which is an upgrade to the standard issued closet space the current dorms provide.

The residence hall is supposed to be finished by the fall of 2009, but with little to no venues outside of campus within walking distance, will potential students be swayed to live on a campus where the nearby area lacks anything of real entertainment value?

Incoming students will be welcomed by a historically sputtering athletic program, a sign where the recreation center will be built and a closed down bar where a Sac State student was shot.

Maybe years from now, Sac State will be known as the premier metropolitan university, but it’s unlikely the current batch of students will be reaping the benefits. This year’s graduating class will only be able to say that they went to Sac State before it got really interesting.

At least we got new OneCards.

The State Hornet Staff can be reached at [email protected].