State of the Yoonjin
The student body population has been steadily increasing, and with it, there has been an increase in the number of student organizations and a movement toward a stronger Rice identity. Campus spaces like Fondren Library and college private dining rooms are oversubscribed, and the student center rejects over 1,000 requests for events every year - about 85 percent of those due to lack of space.
A new or fully renovated student center could become not only the central hub of student activity, but also a space that enriches Rice University's academic, entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit. The colleges are central to the Rice experience, but we need a space that can be the symbol of a joint identity - one that supports the other priorities for students in the second century.
I envision a culture of synergy - between the residential colleges, between undergraduate and graduate students, and between students and faculty - which requires dynamic spaces for performances, meetings, experiential learning, socializing and more. I envision a building we can be proud of as we bring in prospective students or distinguished lecturers. And I envision a truly active central quadrangle that is the heart of our campus.
The Vision for the Second Century conceptualized a social center of campus within the central quad. The addition of Brochstein Pavilion has started this transformation, but a strong student center must materialize as the final piece.
Our student center has not been expanded in over 25 years. In 2006, the Asset Liquidation Funds Appropriations Committee allocated $1 million of the $6 million profit from the KTRU sale toward a feasibility study and predesign for a new student center - the committee's largest single allocation. The Student Vision for the Second Century has also identified the student center as a key component in expanding student life resources. A new or fully renovated student center would facilitate the co-curricular opportunities that are hugely important to the Rice experience.
It is time the ALFA allocations were used to create a feasibility study and predesign that can attract donors. The process to hire an architect who understands both the Rice aesthetic and the needs of a student center must finish by August to start focus groups in the fall.
For the last two weeks, the Student Association leadership has met with campus vice presidents and other key administrators to directly advocate for starting the building process. On Thursday, I presented the above reasoning to the board of trustees as part of an SV2C presentation.
One of my goals as president is to be more transparent about the projects the SA officers are working on. As our relationship with the board of trustees grows, I hope to accurately convey student priorities to its members. If there are issues we should be considering for future conversations, please make sure your SA senator is aware. And look out for more op-eds from myself to engage with some of our broader initiatives.
Happy Beer Bike, everyone!
Yoonjin Min is a Jones College junior and president of the Student Association.
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