Janet Richardson, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of student life, began the meeting by discussing what has been done so far in the effort to get the center on campus. This work has been broken down into three stages. The first stage, which took pace two years ago, included ascertaining what goes into a campus center, looking at centers on other campuses, and finding out each center's strengths and weaknesses. One of the most important things the campus center committee learned was what not to do when our center is built. Asking questions such as, "If you were able to build your campus center all over again, what would you do differently?" were very important and informative.
The primary objective of the second stage, which took place last year, was finding a site for the center. Last year, surveys listing possible sites were sent out to members of the WPI community, who were asked to rate the possible sites according to such criteria as centeredness, acceptability, time, and cost. Ultimately, a site was chosen which wasn't one of the sites presented on the survey.
This new site, the present Alumni Gymnasium (with an addition extending towards Higgins Lawn), combined the qualities of some of the sites that were on the survey. This site combined two projects, the necessary remodeling of Alumni Gym, and the building of the campus center, thus getting two important things done at once and increasing the potential for donations. At that point the focus of the building changed from solely a campus center, and added the recreational aspect to it as well.
The third stage is going on now. This stage is concerned with determining what will actually go into the center. Some of the things in the plans might have to be cut (for example, offices for student publications and for student life will not be going into the center), and others might have to be reduced. The campus center committee will present their determinations at next month's trustee meeting.
At the end of the meeting, Chris Jachimowicz, assistant dean of students, talked about the various sections that are in the current plans for the center. These sections include areas such as the following: a mail room, a new pool, dining areas, athletic facilities, a bookstore, a convenience store, and lounge areas. Questions from those at the meeting were entertained.
Give feedback: newspeak@wpi.wpi.edu