For or against a student center at Augustana?

[getyourwings5]

It may just be that I'm over a thousand miles away and not in the thick of it, but it seems like the debate over a student center at Augustana is getting pretty fired up.

I'm seeing many arguments for and against the construction of the new building, but I'm not satisfied with all the reasoning behind them. I guess I'll start with some of the cons

Comments

[katzpaw17]

As a business major, I totally agree about Sorensen. It was awful. A lot of my classes were in Olin b/c all the computer programs that you are supposed to be proficient in when you graduate in order to compete in the business world couldn't be taught in a building with a single computer lab. My teachers all had difficulties teaching b/c many of the techniques and applications they wanted to show us needed more than just a projector. A lot of times we would take "field trips" to Olin so we could learn. The rooms weren't big enough since business is one of the most popular majors at the school. If you had to go to the bathroom during class and weren't on the end, you got to hold it. I know they won't fix the building, just like they won't offer a business minor. "It's a liberal arts school, we don't want one major or minor becoming a priority" yet when polled, more than 50% of the students would have minored in business if the program was offered. It would have put over 75% of the student population as either a business major or

[getyourwings5]

Good observation. I never thought of that since most of the people I hung out with were music, but business is a pretty big major that requires more space and smart rooms. Granted, I see no problem with holding classes in other buildings, but Olin is usually full with math and comp sci classes, as well as others who need special technology.

Seems kinda dumb to not offer a business minor. I could see it being coupled with many other majors (i.e. music business, international business, computer programming consultation)

[spanishgreg]

I have strongly mixed feelings about the building of a student center.

A big pro is it will give students a place to go between classes. I didn't live on campus my freshman year, and I needed places like the college center and library to hang out.

On the other hand, at Western, I spend much more time in the library than I do at the Student Union. And there is a coffee shop on the first floor of the library. It's a better, quieter place to study. With that in mind, Theo's Java (Or whatever they call it now, brew on the slough) already serves pretty much the same capacity as a student union would. A facility with rooms for seminars, conferences and presentations is redundant to that which we have in the science building and Olin.

It will become a turnoff for lots of students if Augustana's tuition passes a certain threshold (I mean, God, $36,000 a year? I don't think anyone really gets the full benefit of the money they pay out.)