Senate considers student center
By ERIN LaRUFFA
News Writer
Glancing around the main floor of the LaFortune Student Center, one might see students studying, eating or watching television, but one Student Senate committee is looking to change that.
The senate's Committee on Social Space is currently surveying students before creating a plan to either remodel LaFortune or build a new student center.
"We're trying to get ideas," said student body secretary Luciana Reali, who is chairing the social space committee, which consists of student senators, Student Union Board representatives and hall presidents.
The University requested the survey after looking at the results of a study it conducted.
"The University does a self-study every 10 years prior to reaccredidation," said Joe Cassidy, director of student activities. "The last study was called the Colloquy for the Year 2000. One of the recommendations [from that study] was the need for additional campus social space. The recommendation was not specific on what it meant by social space or the specific social space needed."
As a result, the University requested that a committee be formed, Reali said.
"It's the first time the administration has consulted students about a building," she said.
The committee's report will be based on an online survey, which anyone may take through the Notre Dame Web site. The committee is also relying on surveys handed out randomly in LaFortune as well as information from club members and leaders about what kind of space could help them in planning special events.
"We're going to be going solely on [students'] opinions. We don't have any plans yet," Reali said, encouraging students to fill out the survey.
Some committee members have even traveled to other universities to look at social space at those schools. One aspect these members have been considering is the amount of space per student at the school.
"Compared with other schools, our student center is very small," Reali said.
At the end of March, the committee will submit its plan to the Student Senate and then onto Student Activities, she said.
Notre Dame students, however, should not be looking for construction to begin any time soon.
"As part of a broader look at social space needs on campus, the University is evaluating the LaFortune Student Center and how well it meets the needs of our students. There is no plan at the present time to build a new student center," said Cassidy.
In fact, Cassidy and Reali said the University is unsure as to when a new student center will be built, but Reali said she believes it will be at least four to five years in the future.
Nevertheless, many students are interested in a new student center, Reali said. A new student center will possibly offer a restaurant with table service, department stores, a bowling alley and a bar or lounge. Reali said she would like to decrease the need for students to go off campus for entertainment.
A fifth-year architecture student will draw the committee's design for the new building or the remodeled version of LaFortune, she said.
"I certainly appreciate Student Senate taking the initiative to survey student views on the different social spaces at Notre Dame. The feedback from this survey should prove useful in the planning process, especially because it represents direct feedback from the students," Cassidy said.
All News Stories for Friday, February 18, 2000
