Twelve students have answered President Gregory Geoffroy’s call for help in funding renovations of Morrill Hall by forming the Morrill Hall Student Committee.

Geoffroy asked students, faculty and staff to provide suggestions for the unoccupied building, said Jeremy Davis, Morrill Hall Student Committee member.

“Geoffroy asked the campus to write in [and tell him what they thought should be done with Morrill Hall],” said Davis, graduate student in agricultural education and studies.

“I wrote a comment in, and as a result I was asked to be part of the committee.”

Davis said the committee was not in existence prior to Geoffroy’s campaign for ideas.

The purpose of the Morrill Hall Student Committee, founded in October 2002, has two parts, said Nancy Gebhart, president of the Morrill Hall Student Committee.

“The goal is partially to fund-raise and partially for student awareness about Morrill Hall and its future,” she said.

Gebhart, junior in art and design, said the committee does not have typical fund-raising events.

“Most of the events that we plan are for awareness,” she said. “[Recently] we set up a table on the west side of the Hub with info.”

Plans to be in this year’s Veishea parade are also in the works, she said.

Once construction for Morrill Hall is complete, a few programs that need offices will be able to move in. The Christian Petersen Art collection, the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Historic Costume Collection will all be located in the renovated Morrill Hall.

“The Historic Costume Collection is a large collection,” Gebhart said. “Right now it’s being stored in boxes in LeBaron Hall.”

A few classrooms will also be included in the building.

“I think one [classroom] will hold 75 students and the other will hold 150,” Gebhart said.

About $3.2 million of the needed $9 million has been raised for Morrill Hall’s renovation, Gebhart said. After three-fourths of the funding has been raised, construction can begin.

The Morrill Hall Student Committee has contributed $2,600 to the fund-raising effort so far, she said.

Davis said he donated $500 of the money raised so far.

“I guess the biggest reason to contribute to this process is to keep the legacy going at Iowa State,” he said. “Morrill Hall is named after the land grant that started Iowa State.”

Iowa State’s history is dependent on Morrill Hall, Davis said.

“This is how Iowa State was started,” he said.

“Morrill Hall used to be a library, chapel and classrooms. The history [at Iowa State] wouldn’t have happened without [Morrill Hall]. Iowa State would still exist, but it would never be the same.”

Students who wish to contribute to fund-raising efforts should contact members of the committee.

“Just because a student can’t contribute financially doesn’t mean they can’t contribute time,” Davis said.