Photo Courtesy of The Emory Wheel

The Emory Wheel leads with a eye-popping proposal being considered by Emory administration officials to consolidate the university’s medical school onto one campus by moving all medical facilities from Clifton Road to the Clairmont campus.

The proposal, which would need to be approved by the University’s Board of Trustees in the spring, is a significant departure from the original master plan for campus remodeling, which did not include any changes to Clairmont. Emory’s administration is placing portions of its master plan on hold for three months to evaluate the idea, which was disclosed to the Wheel on Friday.

University officials say the switch might be the best option for Emory and its Strategic Plan, which calls for the expansion of Emory’s health care arm. Doing so on the crowded stretch of buildings on Clifton Road would end up being costlier than relocating to Clairmont, officials say, notably because Emory would need to build an underground parking deck at Clifton at a cost of about $50,000 a space.

But more importantly, according to Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Mike Mandl, the change could bring about higher patient satisfaction and a more cohesive undergraduate experience.

This initial explanation seems to have its merits, though a transfer of this magnitude is obviously a major undertaking. North Decatur traffic is terrible, due partially to the comings and goings of hospital workers throughout the day. Anyone commuting from Decatur to I-85 has to be concerned about the impact this would have on the Clairmont commute.

UPDATE: A Wheel staff editorial supports the plan.