Next week, said the vice president of administrative affairs.
Next week, said the dean of student affairs.
Next week, said the director of student activities.
All summer long, organizations, publications and departments heard the cry of “next week” reverberate across campus until next week finally became a reality and they all moved into the new University Center.
Although practically everyone has moved in, the building really won’t be completed for some time, hopefully by Oct. 16, the scheduled dedication date, according to Dr. James Claypool, dean of student affairs and acting director for the center.
In addition to some furniture and equipment which hasn’t arrived yet, various maintenance jobs such as hanging bulletin and chalk boards, adding ashtrays for the walls, fixing some light fixtures, fixing the elevator and other such minor tasks must be completed.Claypool added that students will find some areas locked. “Not because we want to do it, but we just haven’t gotten the equipment in yet. It’s a normal situation; the equipment for two areas especially, the game room and the television lounge isn’t in yet and until it does come in, they will have to be kept locked,” he said.
He did, however, say that he thinks the gameroom “will be functioning a lot sooner (than Oct. 16).”
As for rules and regulations regarding the University Center, he said, “I don’t want to start establishing definitive rules without consulting students and staff and those who are going to be using this building. The guiding principles behind any rules should be things that are reasonable and protect the rights and usage of the building. And I mean protect, not prohibit.”
He continued to say that he’s “open to suggestions on rules and procedures to keep this building clean and new and modern and something we can all take pride in.”
A search committee has been appointed by Dr. A. D. Albright to find a full-time director of the University Center composed of Dr. Gene Scholes, executive assistant to the president; John DeMarcus, vice president of administrative affairs; Don Ransdell, director of purchasing; Dr. Barbara Smith, director of student activities; Sam Makris, Student Government president and Claypool.
According to Smith, deadline for applications is Aug. 31, at which time the committee will go over the applicants and suggest four candidates for interviews to Albright.
Temporary hours for the center this week will be 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Hours, however, may change within the first week of classes, so students should be sure to check for posted times, according to Claypool.
Although some students have been through the building already, many haven’t. The following is a list of what and who is on each floor:
GROUND FLOOR—(enter from outside stairs or through black doors located near center stairs in lobby) the grille, quick foods such as sandwiches, soup, salads and soft drinks, will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.; the gameroom, not yet completed; the bookstore, open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 4:15 p.m.
FIRST FLOOR—(plaza level entrance) the cafeteria, offering hot entrees as well as sandwiches, salads and deserts, will be open from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.; the information booth which will be manned by students and, for the first week, dispense IDs and parking stickers; television and music lounges, not yet complete.
SECOND FLOOR—special services where the two-cent Zerox machine, free typewriters and campus graphics are located; program services; The Polaris (yearbook) office; The Northerner (newspaper) offices; student organizations room; Student Government office and various meeting rooms.
THIRD FLOOR—student activities; psychological services; dean of student affairs office; alumni affairs office; career service office.
Claypool said he is now taking requests for the use of the center’s facilities as well as requests for group or organization offices. All requests should be filed in his office on the third floor.
All in all, everyone in the building seems satisfied. Remarks varied from Pamm Taylor’s coordinator of student services, “I love it!” to Joyce Maegly’s, Smith’s secretary, “I’m really happy with it—at least our share.” Smith, in reply to the question, “What do you think of the University Center?” said simply, “Twenty-four hours a day.”