New center promises more social space
By SCOTT BRODFUEHRER
News Writer
The new Coleman-Morse Center's architecture and features dazzled those who walked into the building on its first day of service to students Monday. The building is more than an architectural sight, however, bringing together three of the most frequently used student services on campus: Academic Services for Student Athletes, Campus Ministry and First Year of Studies.
In addition to the offices themselves, there is study and social space available to students. A large lounge on the first floor, named in honor of Dorene and Jerry Hammes who recently donated $1 million for a Campus Ministry endowment, has space for studying or relaxing and is open 21 hours a day, closing every morning at 4 am for cleaning and re-open at 7 a.m. The lounge is furnished with tables and chairs for studying, couches and a big screen TV for those seeking a break from their work, free popcorn and soda provided by Campus Ministry and two fireplaces. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, there will be food service available in the lounge from 8 p.m until 3 a.m.
"I'm thinking about making it my new study space," said sophomore David Choe. "I used to study at LaFortune, but everybody goes there. This is open 24 hours and it's more relaxed. We need more 24-hour space for hanging out or doing homework."
Campus Ministry has offices on the first and third floors of the building, and a considerably larger amount of space than in the previous offices.
"We never thought it would turn out as beautiful as it has. Campus Ministry went from 5,000 square feet of office space to 35,000 square feet," said Father Richard Warner, director of Campus Ministry.
The center has united Campus Ministry, which was previously housed in the Hesburgh Library and the basement of Badin Hall.
"Before, retreats were run out of the library office. We were disconnected from the Badin office and so many people there were involved in the retreats," said director of retreats Father John Herman.
Those going on retreats will now pick up paperwork and depart for the retreat from the same location on the first floor of the center. The new retreat office also provides more office space for those leading retreats.
"A lot of the people involved with the retreat are rectors and we didn't have a place to work [from]. Here, we can have meetings for retreats and can organize them. It will do a lot to help us improve our current programs and start new ones," Herman said.
A new Campus Ministry organization, PLAN, also has space on the first floor. Students in PLAN will serve as hosts to students from 6 p.m. until midnight each night, restocking the lounge refreshments and also providing information about Campus Ministry programs.
The Center for Social Concerns will operate a satellite office out of the first floor.
Academic Services for Student Athletes has also taken office on the first floor and has larger facilities than their previous space in Brownson Hall.
"This is really meant to be a student-centered building," said Kate Halischak, director of Academic Services for Student Athletes. "For the first time, we have a dedicated tutoring space within the office complex, which makes us able to schedule tutoring more efficiently."
The first floor contains a small chapel named Notre Dame Our Mother where a variety of masses will be held, including Rejoice! and masses for the retreat team. On Fridays, there will be mass and reconciliation in the chapel. There is a cross-cultural ministry that will have permanent cultural displays and also has a small prayer room that is open to all, but is especially targeted for Muslims to use during their Friday prayer.
First Year of Studies now occupies the second floor of the center after 31 years in Brownson Hall.
"Instead of being in a non-descript building overshadowed by the Dome and Basilica, we are now out on South Quad. We are going to be a lot more visible," said Kevin Rooney, assistant dean of First Year of Studies.
In addition to a more preferable location, the new office provides more space for academic advisors and peer mentors and brings the office closer to the Learning Resource Center, a place where freshmen can get assistance in their classes.
"Freshmen can walk right out the door and sign up for tutoring," said Rooney.
Another new feature is that some first year classes will now be taught outside First Year of Studies offices in five small classrooms. Currently, First Year of Studies Dean Eileen Kolman teaches her math class in the building, but next year the rooms have a full schedule of first year courses. In the evening, these rooms will be used for tutoring and collaborative workshops by the Learning Resource Center.
"We are delighted to have more inviting facilities and a more comfortable environment for everyone," Rooney said.
The University Writing Center moved from the basement of DeBartolo Hall to the second floor of the center.
Campus Ministry's expanded space will allow it to provide more resources to students. There is a new catechist resource room designed to aid students who teach religious education in local parishes. A new choir library contains 100,000 sheets of music used by the various choirs and new choir rooms were also built.
"The rooms are primarily for our eight different choral groups who were practicing for a long time in the Earth Science building. We also want to make the rooms available to student groups who want to use it. We want to make everything available to all the people we serve," Warner said.
The $14 million, 66,670 square foot building was underwritten by gifts from two alumni. Although commonly referred to as the Coleman-Morse Center, the building actually contains two centers. The Thomas A.. Coleman Family Center for Campus Ministry memorializes the family of Thomas Coleman, a 1956 graduate and member of the Board of Trustees until his death last year. Coleman also served for 32 years on the Mendoza College of Business advisory council and provided funding for the renovation of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in 1990. The James and Leah Rae Morse Center for Academic Services was funded by a gift from James Morse, a 1957 graduate of the University and captain of the 1956 football team, and his wife. Morse was the voice of Notre Dame football on ABC in the 1960s and has served on the College of Arts and Letters advisory council since 1981.
"It really is a whole new era in student services," Warner said.
All News Stories for Tuesday, March 20, 2001
