Tuesday evening, Mississippi University for Women held a state senate candidates debate at Poindexter Hall’s Kossen Auditorium and while it was difficult to determine which candidate won, no one could dispute that Poindexter Hall is a clear winner.
It’s been almost two years since the venerable old “music hall” reopened as part of a $23-million building campaign that started after the devastation caused by the 2002 tornado that ripped through campus.
Renovations of Poindexter, one of 23 campus buildings listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, cost $9.5 million.
Each time we visit the venue, we are more convinced it was money well spent.
Poindexter Hall is an “every-day” venue as home of The W’s music department. There are classrooms, teaching studios, a music library and practice rooms. But for non-students, it is Kossen Auditorium that serves as a vital link between the university and community.
Each year, dozens of public events are held at Poindexter Hall and even those who regularly attend those events remain enchanted by this jewel of a facility.
Built in 1905, the renovated facility has retained the original charm of its architecture while featuring state-of-the-art amenities, including the latest in sound and lighting.
Tuesday’s candidates debate was an excellent opportunity for the students involved in the program to get some hands-on experience in our political process.
But it was also another example of how The W is committed to strengthening its ties with the community it calls home. Poindexter Hall is, then, The W’s showpiece and a worthy one at that. It’s hard to imagine any first-time visitor walking away from an event there without being impressed by the facility and, by extension, the university.
The MUW administration is aware of this, of course, and we applaud their efforts for making Poindexter Hall available for such a wide range of public events.
When it comes to Poindexter Hall, there is no debate.
It’s a winner every time.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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