BOT report to look at social space
By ERIN LaRUFFA
News Writer
When the Coleman-Morse Center opened recently, many University students and staff expected the lounge to be used as social space. Instead, students are using the building as study space.
That is just one observation on social space members of Student Government's Board of Trustees committee will relay to Notre Dame's Board of Trustees at its next meeting on May 3.
Once a semester, students, through the Office of the Student Body President, have the chance to address the Board of Trustees for an hour and a half. With the University in the planning stages of several building projects, addressing social space issues seemed appropriate, according to Tyler Jackson, one of the leaders of student government's Board of Trustees committee.
"With the building plans the University has, we felt this would be a good time for students to offer their input," Jackson said.
To get student input, the committee held a forum for representatives of each dorm Wednesday night to discuss social space both in dorms and in other University buildings.
Many students who attended the forum expressed discontent with space for both studying and socializing in their dorms.
Part of the problem is that students study in areas intended as social space, according to some forum participants.
"For the most part, if you want to socialize there, you feel really uncomfortable because everyone is studying," said Erin Clayton from Breen-Phillips.
"The issue is not square footage," said Phil Tribble from O'Neill. Instead, he added, the problem is what the space is used for.
Another complaint centered on the fact that some security guards often restrict or monitor 24-hour space.
"In the girls dorms, it's not so much lack of space. The space we have is high traffic and monitored," said Kristin Baranack of Lewis Hall.
However, others at the forum said the amount of space is a problem.
"We would have a huge turnout for hall council, but we don't have a large multipurpose room so we have to turn people away," said Meghan Finnerty of Lyons Hall.
Two Howard residents also complained that lack of space forced the dorm to hold dances in its chapel. Finnerty added that Lyons does not even have in-hall dances because the dorm has no place for them.
Students at the forum also discussed areas for studying and socializing outside of dorms.
"The use of Coleman-Morse [for studying] signals that we need more comfortable study space," said student body president Brooke Norton. She also suggested adding social space that would be more "interactive," such as a bowling ally.
Students also discussed the difficulty they have in getting off campus without a car, and suggested the University allow private businesses, such as restaurants, to develop in an area near the edge of campus.
Other suggested additions included a sports pub, a Reckers-style restaurant on North Quad and a health food store.
Information from the forum will go into student government's report to the Board of Trustees. Other information will come from student surveys and an upcoming faculty forum.
All News Stories for Thursday, April 12, 2001
