"what with the enormous new lab science and academic classroom buildings, swank honors dorms" That infrastructure investment is to make the school attractive t

"what with the enormous new lab science and academic classroom buildings, swank honors dorms" That infrastructure investment is to make the school attractive to future students (you already are a student). Same as Starbucks will periodically renovate or a company might provide employee perks. Many improvements are also done for parents on college visits to make the school seem attractive to them.