By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The Chancellor of UM-St. Louis says he's pleased that two science buildings might get more money. That, after Gov. Matt Blunt made changes last week to the list of projects he wants funded by the sale of student loans.
The governor pulled the projects after embryonic stem cell research opponents objected to state money funding buildings that would house such research.
That means $5.5 million for the UM-St. Louis Center for Emerging Technologies is out. But a renovation project at Benton and Stadler Halls that was to get $18 million will now get $28.5 million, which pleases chancellor Tom George.
"Most of what we have to do is behind the walls. It's the electrical, things of this sort that have been falling apart," George said, in an interview. "So, sorely needed for our teaching for students, and for our research."
Still, George says losing the Emerging Technologies money means another building won't get built, at least not now.
But all this spending will only happen if Missouri lawmakers approve the sale of the student loans.