[Vision2020] Fw: UI Considers Making Freshmen Live on Campus

[Ted Moffett]

The Deakin St. Student Union Building cafeteria, which was used often for
more than just eating, but for studying and socializing, was open to serve
meals and be a community center till 1-2 AM, at least on Friday and Saturday
night, during the later 1960s early 1970s.  I'm certain of this because I
worked there during those years.  On Fri. and Sat. nights during those
years the place would often be buzzing with activity till late.

I agree the current Commons does not offer this kind of environment for
students to gather away from dorms, apartments, library, athletic
facilities, or bars and commercial restaurants, and the Commons' hours limit
its availability, of course.

The Student Union Cafeteria at this time was state run, not filled with
commercial fast food outlets, just as the university dining services for the
dorms, which were later outsourced to the private sector.  Generous meals
were offered for a very good price...

The Student Union Cafeteria and associated food services at this time were
more sophisticated than you might think, serving advanced cuisine to large
formal banquets, with VIPs sometimes in attendance, at numerous tables in
the Student Union "ballroom," I think they called it then.  This required a
rather large staff of cooks, waiters, kitchen helpers, set-up and clean up
crews, etc.  We dressed up in fancy waiters apparel, supplied by the Student
Union Building food services, for the whole routine of serving meals from
appetizer to desert, beverages , etc.

Once I waited on a table seating US Senator Frank Church and his wife, and
was graciously in person introduced by name to both of them, at their
request...

Ted Moffett

On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 4:06 PM, Kenneth Marcy <kmmos1 at verizon.net> wrote:

>
> But students have lost a comfortable place to have a cup of coffee, to
> socialize, and to study that is away from their primary residence location
> or
> the library (which isn't supposed to be for socializing, anyway). In other
> words, the students have lost the Student Union Building, which is now an
> administrative complex. Yes, I know about the Commons, that add-on to the
> eastern side of the University Classroom Center that has all of the
> ambiance
> of a jet airliner repair and refurbishment hanger, without the resident
> jets.
> Since the food vendors seem to be able, effectively, to shut down the place
> when their cash flows dwindle, the general purpose, high-ceiling barn
> portion
> of the facility is of limited use as an escape from dorms and cafeterias.
>
> > I also think it is easier to create a community among students if there
> is
> > some proximity and some gentle help available (through residence hall
> > advisers and even in-house faculty who sometimes live in residence halls
> at
> > some institutions.
>
> I think you're correct in this assessment. However, I do feel the
> experience
> could be even better with more flexible space available on-campus for
> non-classroom, non-dining activities that are not of a gymnastic or
> athletic
> nature. Some sort of combination of spaces representing a community living
> rooms, community dens, and community meeting spaces not "owned"
> or "controlled" by one living group or another, or the "administration," it
> seems to me, would be a valuable addition to encourage a variety of
> activities not necessarily affiliated with a particular residence group. In
> other words, it would be nice to have a New Student Union back for
> students.
>
>
>
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