Guest Editorial by Amanda McCandless (Layout Editor)
Amanda McCandless, Media Arts student
With our largest freshman class to date, many students may not appreciate the major changes around campus that returning students are noticing.
New furniture, new dining options and entertainment upgrades give the college center a more comfortable vibe. Having an apartment near campus allowed me to stop in to the College Center a few times over the summer to check out the changes in progress.
The first thing I noticed was the renovation of the bookstore. Before the renovation the bookstore was kind of cramped. I often felt like a bull in a china shop when trying to browse the store. Books are also now easier to find, even though the staff is just as helpful as in years past.
Also on the ground floor, The Underground has seen some minor upgrades. Always a popular hang-out in the past, with comfortable seating, a large screen television and plenty of game tables, another flat panel television was added and the study area has received new furniture. A gaming station, which would allow students to bring their own XBOX and PlayStation games, was an upgrade planned for the Underground, has yet to be seen.
The new layout of the College Center lobby makes it easier for students to hang out and socialize. I’m also glad to see that the huge center planter (“The Jungleâ€) was removed. The extra space is nice during peak class times, when traffic is heavy, as well as for student life events. I am a bit confused at the choice of furniture; the upholstery is slippery. They’re comfortable enough, but I thought the old couches were more comfortable.
The installation of the new Purell dispensers on the first floor of College Center was a cheap and simple addition. Whoever suggested this deserves a candy bar. With cold and flu season approaching, I’m sure the dispensers will help to keep us all germ-free, given that we all use them.
The televisions in the lobby are a nice touch and help make Wesley a more modern college. Student organizations can advertise their events on these screens for free. This can be very helpful, but I think the ads should rotate at a slower pace. Some ads have too much text to read in the time before the screen changes.
When dinnertime rolls around, students can still dine in Dulany Hall, but they also have the option of using a biodegradable container for meals on the go. Last year’s Club Simpson was expanded and renamed The Den. A larger dining area and more menu options have proven to be a big hit among students and faculty. The Den also features a jukebox but at the time thiswas written, was not plugged in and only half filled with discs.
There’s another pleasant surprise in the outside area behind Carpenter Hall. In the past, the walkway would get very muddy and messy due to rain/snow and heavy traffic. It has since been paved so that we can all get to and from our classes and dorms without tracking mud all over.
All around, I think that Wesley College has made good decisions as to what areas to upgrade, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the upcoming years.
It would be great to see brand new computers in Parker Library, and more of them!
If Wesley continues to attract so many new students, even more elaborate expansions may be necessary.
