2008 Woodie Awards
Task Force explains Union plans
By Rachel Seeman
Rocket News Editor
Issue date: 11/11/05 Section: News
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Students will make a final vote Dec. 6-8 on Option 1: renovating and expanding the current union, or Option 2: building a new union.
Both options will cost about the same.
"We're trying to get the new union and residence halls done by 2008," said Paula Olivero, assistant vice president of student development.
The current union was built in 1968 for a student body of about 3,000 students. There are currently about 8,000 students attending SRU.
"The State System of Higher Education Board of Governors requires that all student unions must be self-supporting," said Amie Homa, SRU Student Government Association vice president of advancement. "The SRU Union is the only remaining union that is not self-supporting."
The union fee each semester for students at SRU is $25. The semester fee at Indiana University of Pennsylvania is $235, $140 at Clarion University and $190 at Edinboro University.
"It's nice right now, but it's going to change regardless," Student Government Association Senator Emily Burchfield said.
The current union is sub-par and requires extensive renovations, expansions or replacements. There is not enough space for student organizations, the seating area and kitchen at Rocky's is not big enough and the heating and cooling system has problems, Homa said.
The new union fee would be similar to other universities, Mark Felbinger, a member of the University Union Task Force, said.
"Our goal is to keep the cost to students as low as possible," he said.
The new union fee would be similar to other universities.
Retail in the new space would lower fees, Burchfield said.
"If you're not here to use (the new building), you're not paying a dime for it," Felbinger said.
Kyle Kekic, a member of the task force, said that more than 1,500 students participated in the survey.
The most popular requests were improved dining options, a coffeehouse like Starbucks, a larger bookstore, more retail and amenities, a movie theater, an MPR or ballroom for major events, more meeting rooms of different sizes and space for student clubs and organizations, Kekic said.
