Unfinished center contrasts with others

Construction of Loftin Student Center is at a standstill and has been for almost two years.

Phase 1 of renovations, which included moving the student life offices to a corner of the second floor and a modernization of the interior, began Sept. 12, 2007. Funds were spent on specialty furniture, an information desk, building curved walls with bar-height laptop seating and a new paint job.

It was supposed to include a bookstore annex and game room before production halted.

The project cost $170,240 in student activity fees with an additional $198,000 from district's 2006 Maintenance Tax Notes. The project total is $352,000.

John Strybos, vice chancellor of facilities, said they got a surprise once they pulled up the floor and also that the needs of the students changed. Student life Director Jorge Posadas said the floor was uneven and that would have blown the budget.

Posadas said the game room that was originally to go in the now vacant space on the south side of the first floor is now intended as a mini fitness room. He says that it's hard to get into fitness classes and that the conditioning rooms are available only when there are no classes so it is difficult for students to find time to work out.

Since moving the arcade off the second floor, the video games and pool tables have occupied the north end of the cafeteria, adding to the cacophony.

A bookstore annex, conference room and a couple of student life offices also will occupy the space next to the fitness room. Posadas said he plans to have a few workout machines and mirrors added to the space. The cost has not been determined, but Posadas said that there are student activity fee funds available. Kinesiology Chair Bill Richardson said that if the fitness center will benefit students then that is fine. He added that there should be a monitor present to sign in students and ensure they are using the equipment properly so that they don't get hurt. He added that students should wear workout clothes.

Posadas also plans to update the Fiesta Room by adding theater lighting, a sound booth and mini stage similar to a black box theater. A remodeled information booth under the stairway and new paint are also in the works to be added in Phase 2.

"We are trying to use every inch of the building," he said.

Posadas said new plans are in place for Phase 2 and are awaiting a district architect's designs. He said they have the $30,000 and at this point are just waiting for a draft of the blueprints. Then Strybos will send out bids. Right now, there is no completion date for the renovations to come.

"I hope it's as soon as possible," Posadas said. Strybos said that district architects are currently working on the project, but has no idea when the work will begin.

He said there are easily 10-15 events a week ranging from live entertainment, sporting events, workshops to fairs and karaoke free. The 22,028 students enrolled at this college pay $1 per credit hour in student activity fees.

Even with an uncompleted student center, there are an abundance of amenities. There are pingpong and pool tables, arcade games, big-screen TVs for video game use, and Bailey's Cyber Café equipped with new Macintosh computers. The café is open until 5 p.m. except on Fridays when it closes at 4:30 p.m.

"We're going to take care of them," Posadas said. "We want to make sure that they get the best."

A number of intramural sports teams are beating out some four-year universities in competition, the Student Government Association is active on- and off-campus and other student clubs and organizations are fundraising nonstop.

Still students are kicked out of the building by 6:50 p.m. even though cafeteria hours are from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and won't be extended, Posadas said, because it would mean longer hours for housekeepers.

For information or suggestions, call student life at 486-0125.

Northwest Vista College

With the second largest number of enrolled students at 14,555, Northwest Vista College surrounds a tranquil lake. Students enjoy covered outdoor patios with a lake view, restaurant style booths indoor, carpeted lounges flooded with natural light and table seating in the Cypress Campus Center. Upstairs, students have access to an open computer lab, and across the lake, the Selrico food service offers a cyber café next to the library.

Kimaya Brewington, digital video and cinema production freshman, said she enjoys the overall design of the student center while she eats lunch.

"I love the high ceilings," she said.

Music freshman Aaron Gamboa said he hangs out in the center to pass time in between classes.

Monday, in the Lago Vista Room, a larger version of the Fiesta Room, a blood drive representative tried to encourage students to participate.

In the student life office, psychology sophomore Ana Gaitan greets students with a smile and takes student ID photos.

"It's just another one of the services that we are happy to provide," Darryl Nettles coordinator of student leadership and activities, said. "It brings students in here."

Nettles said while he is not complaining about the design of the student center, he would've done some things differently. He wishes that the office didn't have walls separating his office from the front desk because he prefers to see students entering.

The college has movie and open mic nights, bowling and recreational sports. They even offer kayaking on the Guadalupe River and healthy cooking classes.

Nettles, former associate director of student life here, has been at Northwest Vista five years. Surprised to hear that renovations in Loftin were still uncompleted, Nettles said, "That's unfortunate," shaking his head.

St. Philip's College