Dear Editor,
I was appalled when reading the front page story in the Dec. 11Daily News. It was quite a shock to see students holding upsigns that read, "Everything U Need Minus a Student Center."Honestly, at first, I couldn't understand what it was exactly thatthese students are wanting. Is it a place for students to gatherat, building a sense of community? To maybe just hang out together?Is it a place with nice, quiet rooms to study? Maybe even a diningarea? Is it a place that has a bowling alley and an area to playpool?
Isn't that the idea? These students are right. Ball State doesneed a building like this -- but, wait a minute. What exactly isthat big, brown building on the corner of McKinley Avenue andUniversity Avenue? That's the Student Center. As a matter of fact,not only does the L.A. Pittenger Student Center have everythingmentioned above, it has plenty of unused space that is just sittingaround ready to be used by students.
If Ball State has the extra money to build a new building, maybeit should use it for something that would be a little more useful.The Ball State Athletic Program had to take some pretty nastybudget cuts. The roads could be repaired. Or, how about runningmore shuttle buses during the cold season, or even expanding theroute? And we have all already heard enough about the lack ofparking around campus. The point is that it wouldn't be a bad ideato get rid of the old building and build one in a better locationif the university actually had the money. Clearly, it doesn't.
Even if Ball State did have the money, do you think they wouldjust jump at the chance to build its students a new student centerwhen hardly any students actually use the one we have now? Onecomplaint that I've heard regarding this issue is that the studentcenter is too far away to walk to. While it isn't in a verycentralized location, it isn't any farther away than Dill StreetBar, Greek's Pizzeria or the mt cup. I know plenty of students whowalk that way every day and never complain.
Putting aside the bowling and billiards, I can think of plentyof events that go on in the Student Center. The University ProgramBoard puts on something there almost every weekend. The center isalso usually open to those students who might want a change ofscenery when studying. On a few occasions, I've seen a studentsleeping, taking advantage of one of the couches in the manylounges the center has. I believe even the dining area, CardinalCrossing, is one of best on campus, although it could stand to havemore business hours.
But if you don't enjoy any of the activities that go on there,it's your own fault. Start one of your own or stop complaining,because certainly, that is the only real issue.
Olivia Popplewell
sophomore
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