Eastern will remain a Pepsi school, after the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to accept a bid from Pepsi MidAmerica at Friday’s meeting.

The contract is estimated to cost $400,000 annually, pending on the amount of product purchased.

The five-year contract has the option for an additional five years.

Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, said an increase in the price of a 20-ounce soft drink is under consideration.

The current price for a 20-ounce soft drink from a university vending machine is $1.

Cooley said the university is looking at increasing the price to $1.25. Signing of the contract needs to occur before the price increase is finalized, he added.

The university is considering a price increase because of an increase of product and distribution costs, Cooley said.

The board also unanimously voted to accept bids to replace an rooftop air conditioning unit on Old Main, replacement of an rooftop air conditioning unit, two 40-ton condensing units, associated refrigerant piping and evaporator coils in the Student Services building, and the replacement of a heating and ventilation unit in Lantz Arena.

The approved cost of the project is $513,786.

Also, the board approved a $35,000 contract change order for the audiovisual equipment for the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Cooley said modifications were needed in a couple of the theaters in Doudna and the original contract did not include a 10 percent contingency fund.

The contract is now approximately $1.5 million.

In other business, the board approved naming multiple sections of the Doudna and also a room within Booth Library.

The theater wing of Doudna was named the Lumpkin Theatre Wing. Richard H. Lumpkin and the Lumpkin Family Foundation provided a $2 million gift to help endow the New and Emerging Artist Series, according to a board addendum.

The wing houses the Black Box Theatre, the Movement Studio and the Main Stage Theatre.

The steps located on the west side of Doudna were renamed the Mellin Steps, after Warren and Helen Mellin. The Mellins left a portion of their estate to the university after they died in 2007. The steps were built with the funds, after they were originally omitted from construction.

Room 1640 in Doudna was renamed the Nimmons Keyboard Studio, after Ken and Julie Nimmons. The Nimmons supported the New and Emerging Artist Series.

Room 3202 in Booth Library is being named after former Gov. Jim Edgar and his wife Brenda. According to the addendum, Edgar donated his political papers to Booth, and Brenda Edgar created the Brenda Edgar scholarship to support single women who return to college.

The Edgars also created the Edgar Speaker Series, which brings speakers to campus with expertise in state and local government.

Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.

In the Doudna Fine Arts Center, Room 1640 will be named the Nimmons Keyboard Studio after board member Julie Nimmons and her husband, Ken.(Robbie Wroblewski

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