Towers lobby to be revamped

Mary Baker, staff writer

Since past student facility representatives Tyler Choi and Samantha May began to voice students’ dissatisfaction with the Towers Lobby last spring, Vice President for Student Affairs, Anne Hamilton, and other faculty members are stepping towards a renovation project.

Hamilton and students have been working side-by-side in efforts to give new life to the central place of socializing for freshman. One project in particular has been a web site created by Intern for Student Activities and yearbook advisor Kevin Funkhouser called www.LoveTheLobby.com. 

Though the site is not yet completed, it will serve as an outlet where students can voice opinions and complaints about the lobby via anonymous polls, view a student-made film about the lobby and find information about the history and future of the project in general.

While there is much excitement surrounding this project, a large amount of funds are needed in order to make this anticipated dream a reality. 

“We’re currently in the stage of seeing how much it will all cost,” Hamilton said. “We want to have the blessing from administration before we move forward with this, so we’re taking our time to do it the right way.”

Fundraising has been put on hold for the time being until the university has a complete estimate of the project’s price tag. However, Hamilton, facility representatives Savana Koteita and David Stretz and other staff members including Funkhouser will continue to work together with administration to make the plans concrete.

“We’ve been wanting to do this because students want it, so we’re asking students ‘What do you want to see in the lobby?’” Funkhouser said. 

Completed in 1970, the lobby has become outdated because the only remodeling has ever been replacing carpet and tile.

It has even become a place to dodge when giving campus tours. Broken foosball tables and pool sticks, out-of-order phone booths and laptops balancing on trash cans to view movies is not an atmosphere conducive to what the lobby is meant to be—a safe, recreational place for students on campus, Hamilton said.

“You need to create environments for conversation to happen on a college campus,” Hamilton said.

Those working on the project want to know what students need in the lobby. Whether it’s a proper space for computers, more comfortable seating or even a television, now is the time for students to voice their opinions.