Student Life Center?
David Biller
Issue date: 3/14/05 Section: features
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This misconception is rather common, and when the Center opens in March, those like D'amelio are in for a rude awakening. The building was a joint venture between the Division of Student Life and the Office of the Provost. Jack Davis, Assistant Director of the Student Life Center, explained, "The Offi ce of the Provost obviously put in the new Career Center and that's their part of it, and the Division of Student Life is on the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), and all the meeting room space.
"Our major goal is to keep campus events on campus and we've really gone after and marketed to the campus community, especially
campus organizations."
Students, however, might be left wondering where the individual student fi gures into the design after the building's ribbon cutting ceremony on March 30th. What they will see is that, aside from the new
Career Center, Study Abroad Offi ce, and the ISSS, the building consists
of seven meeting rooms, a 9,000-square-foot ballroom, and a parking
garage.
"The Student Life Center is really focusing on complementing what Sarratt doesn't have, and that's large meeting rooms," David said. "Sarratt has got the social space and it will continue to be the student
union on campus, whereas the Student Life Center will be for any organizational events, fundraisers, any student organization type of activity as opposed to strictly study space. The idea was to put those large rooms on campus."
Andrew Maxwell, Student Government Association President, said, "The SLC is a good building, but it could have been a lot better. When the building was in the planning stages, there was a lot of talk about creating a space where students could truly go to 'hang out' - but that's not the building we have ended up with at all...There was a lot of discussion about creating things like bowling alleys, maybe a game room, more couches and TV rooms, things like that. None of those dreams were realized in the SLC."
Although there are no study or leisure areas specifi cally set aside,
Davis said, "there's a gathering space the students will be able to use
with lounge chairs. Also, the building's wireless so students can hang
out."
Maxwell added, "One of the most important things about a student center type of building is food service: students need a place to eat and drink if they are going to have a place to socialize." Davis does not foresee this becoming a problem. "With us being connected to Branscomb, you've already got the Munchie Mart and Rotiki that's right there...We want to get permanent tables and chairs to put out on the terrace for students to come and eat Rotiki or study," he said. The Division of Student Life is also discussing the possibility of a Koffee Kart.