The Brown & White

Throughout the years, students at Lehigh have lacked a central space that serves to unify the student body. Currently, all "student centers" are separated from one another, each serving a different purpose. As a result, Lehigh's student body is a segregated one. Having to go from Ulrich Student Center to check your mail and attend club meetings, to Lamberton Hall to see a show, to the University Center to eat, means the logistics of performing these daily duties becomes too time-consuming.

Wouldn't you rather spend the time wasted going back and forth between three separate buildings meeting new people and seeing your friends in one place? On behalf of more than 10 clubs on campus, including The Movement, the Global Union and University Productions, we propose the establishment of one student center at Lehigh.

So what would a real student center look like? It would provide a social alternative to the Hill, so that Greeks and non-Greeks could congregate in one place. Students would have one multi-purpose space to hang out in between classes (or for graduate and commuter students, a home away from home). It would be a place where students and faculty could mingle in the cafeteria, café or lounge.

This 24-hour facility would include a great number of amenities: bank, printing services, post office, student art gallery, a multimedia lecture hall, arcade and convenience store. Lehigh's student center would be one place where all clubs and organizations would have their office space and be able to hold meetings and events. Crucially, this student center would provide the space for all events on campus to be advertised in one easily accessible location frequented daily by the Lehigh community.

Now is the time to push this much-needed space for the student body. We as students need to make our voices are heard, and make sure the administration does not continue to suggest that three separate "student centers" meet our needs. A student center is one building, not three.

Already in place are the Strategic Thinking Initiative and the Council of Equity and Community. Each has looked into the possibility of creating this centralized student center. This student center campaign would ensure our needs as students are being met; this center should be a No. 1 priority. The University Center is already spacious enough to accommodate everything needed for this new student center, so what are we waiting for?