TSC experiences interior design changes
The Taggart Student Center has become more student oriented.
Various changes took place at the TSC over the summer to facilitate growing entities such as the Women’s Center and give more room back over to the students, Gary Chambers TSC director said.
According to Chambers student leaders, along with himself and others involved in the TSC, have been concerned for years that the student center was becoming too administrative.
“A lot of this move has allowed us to gain space back for students to have somewhere to relax,” Chambers said.
One of the most noticeable changes is the reverting of the Juniper Lounge back to a student lounge where instead of lines to pay fees students will find different types of lounge furniture and eventually spots to check email.
The cashier’s office, previously located on the second floor, has now been combined with the registrar’s office on the first floor.
“I liked how they moved cahiers – it’s nice to have everything in one central location,” Kristopher Woodbury, a senior in elementary education, said. “I also enjoy the quiet atmosphere that the move has given this area [Juniper Lounge]. I’ve also noticed the new computers and I think they look really stylish.”
Chambers also hopes that the patio outside of the Juniper Lounge will be made accessible to students in the near future.
“Our student center has turned into more of a programming hub and we want to get away from that. The new lounge reflects this. The lounge will be strictly for hanging out- sitting, studying, whatever,” Kathy Leslie, ASUSU activities vice president, said.
Another student lounge is slated for the space presently occupied by Student Support Services, which helps first generation students. The student help group would be moved to University Inn making room for a nice TV lounge where students can “kick back and relax,” Chambers said.
Other moves, however, were encouraged more by necessity than leisure.
After receiving a National Science grant the study of women’s issues the Women’s Center was in need of more room. They are now located in the old Statesman office on the third floor. Now in TSC 310, students will find SOAR and an expanded counseling group room.
Other changes on the third floor include a larger and improved Math and Stats tutoring space on the south side, Student Legal Services moving to where the Statesman’s dark room used to be and more windows to provide natural light.
The first floor, home to the HUB and bookstore, has changed as well. With the Women’s Center on the third floor The Utah Statesman needed somewhere to go and has been moved to where the Bullpen was located. The change was prompted by “diminishing use” of the Bullpen in recent years, according to the April 2004 alumni newsletter.
The billiards tables have been relocated to the Nelson Field House, where students can still take billiard classes or simply check out cues to play a game.
Chambers mentioned that the Field House will be undergoing some changes during the first few weeks of fall semester as well including more room for exercise and more equipment.
The remodeling project, that started in May, cost $25,000. Funding, according to Chambers, came from three sources: The Provost office, the Student Center’s budget and ASUSU. Last year ASUSU gave money to the school insisting that it be used for remodeling the TSC, Leslie said.
“You couldn’t ask for a better situation and collaboration than that. When everyone works together, everyone has ownership and things really come together. It’s really been fun to watch,” Chambers said.
“It’s really been a win-win situation,” said Shauna Jensen, TSC staff assistant.
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