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Student organizations may need to make a move
Dramatic office changes are underway on Bentley University Campus for the 2012-2013 academic year. After completion of the current construction in LaCava and future renovations in historic Lewis Hall, the counseling center will move to the Residential Center area, the Residential Center will move into Bubble offices and Bubble offices will potentially be dispersed throughout the student center. After 2013, the administration plans to move the wellness and counseling centers to Lewis hall in order to maximize student benefit in their environment.
“We have long envisioned the ideal of having a Wellness Center where mind and body health are integrated,” stated Dean Andrew Shepardson. “Lewis Hall will be a great location for this. There will be the ability to focus more on preventative care such as meditation and yoga as well as integrating services.”
Currently, the Bubble is home to various student organizations which have either applied for an office for the year or are guaranteed permanent office space. This temporary move will displace their usual operations throughout the year.
“We have talked to the student groups impacted and students understand this disruption is temporary and will lead to a great end result,” said Shepardson. “Students have been very supportive and helpful. A student group is currently working on how to ensure we make this work for all students.”
In addition to displacing student offices, the changes will also affect the lounge area built in for students, equipped with printers, couches, and chairs.
“A sense of community stems from this building,” stated SGA member Buddy Gormley during the meeting, referring the many uses of the student center.
“Staff members and students are working on the logistics of the temporary moves and we are confident that while some functions may have to shift to other parts of the building we will be able to continue to offer all of the services expected,” said Shepardson.
Paul Stanish, Associate Director of the Student Center, recently met with SGA, staging a pseudo-focus group where they discussed typical daily uses of various buildings throughout campus. The lounge area in the bubble was mentioned as a popular study destination, while the printers were named for their convenience.
Stanish and other administration members are working to coordinate another focus group to which they have invited the top thirty Bubble printer users since the beginning of the school year. This ranking was determined by number of swipes into the system.
“As far as the temporary moves are concerned this plan has relatively no costs (other than moving) and this is why it was developed,” said Shepardson.
SGA will continue to work with the administration as they work out details for these construction plans.
“Changes like this are difficult,” said Shepardson. “Many staff members will be moving functions twice in just over one year. Students will be, at minimum, inconvenienced. However, I am very confident that the end result will be terrific and well worth it….I encourage students with concerns or ideas to bring them forward (to SGA or to me directly).
