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GREENSBORO — On UNCG’s campus, “The Quad” is a historic jewel. Built between 1919 and 1923, the seven dormitories that make up the area have been home to generations of students.

They’re also some of the worst dorms on campus.

“They’re just worn out,” said UNCG Vice Chancellor Carol Disque. “The electrical systems are worn out. They’re the last nonair-conditioned dorms we have. They’re not handicapped accessible at all. They’re clean and well kept but they’re just very old.”

So old that the university has a decision to make: whether to tear down the buildings and put new dorms in their place, or try to restore and modernize what’s there.

The issue has become a tug-of-war between preserving the past and preparing for the future. Some alumni and groups such as Preservation Greensboro are pushing to save the buildings. Many students say they’d rather see new, modern dorms — particularly with the student body growing every year.

“It’s a complicated question,” Disque said.

That’s why the university is asking for input from students, staff, faculty and the public. At an on-campus meeting this afternoon Disque will present various options and ask for feedback. Suggestions will then go to the board of trustees when it meets later this month.

Either option likely will cost about $100 million, Disque said.

Whatever happens, it needs to happen soon. “The housing staff is concerned that if we do nothing something big is going to fail in those buildings,” Disque said. “Then we’ll have hundreds of students with no place to live.”

With its three-story buildings housing 755 students, the Quad is the least dense cluster of dorms on campus. It’s also one of the least sought-after.

“What we have there are double rooms with gang bathrooms down the hall,” Disque said. “Most new students want to live in apartment and suite-style dorms, with their own bathrooms.”

Situated on about 200 acres, UNCG has struggled with student crowding for years. The school is on track to take on 400 more on-campus students in 2011 and 400 more every three years until 2017. Though new, apartment-style dorms opened on Spring Garden Street a few years ago, only about 700 of the school’s 4,200 on-campus beds are in modern buildings that don’t resemble a military barracks. That might be traditional, but it’s not profitable.

“Our housing department gets no state money,” Disque said. “All the funding to keep our housing available comes from renting rooms to students. So, we have to compete with off-campus landlords and apartment buildings for those students. Many of them would rather live in modern apartments.”

UNCG Student Government President Michael Tuso said most students don’t want to lose the Quad, but as they hear more about the plans, they’re warming to the idea of rebuilding it.

“I think that when you hear about buildings being torn down, you think they’re going to be putting up new high-rises,” Tuso said. “That wouldn’t really be what happens. What they’re talking about is rebuilding modern buildings that keep the historic character and the architecture but are modern, sustainable dorms.”

Tuso said students want buildings with a mix of single and double rooms, suites, kitchens and common places.

“There are a lot of options,” Tuso said. “I think once people meet and see the presentation there’s a way for the campus to get everything it needs without losing its character or history.”

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com