The Advisory Neighborhood Commission passed a motion on Tuesday expressing their support of the renovation of New South cafeteria into student space after the completion of the Southwest Quadrangle in 2003.
The motion was presented by ANC Commissioner Justin Wagner (CAS ‘03). Wagner said that developing New South cafeteria ties in to the University’s 10-Year Plan, which aims to develop more student space on campus.
Wagner cited student involvement in Hoya’s during Student Bartending Night and the new Village C West Alumni Lounge as progress made in the past year to enhance student space. The “grand pearl” of student space is New South cafeteria, according to Wagner.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to develop the undergraduate experience on Georgetown University’s campus,” Wagner said.
Vice President of Student Affairs Juan Gonzalez has formed a core planning group of students and administrators to look into the New South space, said Georgetown University Student Association Vice President Mason Ayer (SFS ‘03).
GUSA President Kaydee Bridges (SFS ‘03) and Ayer said that the administrators involved are student-friendly and in favor of creating student space. A proposal will eventually go before the Board of Directors, Bridges said.
Bridges and Ayer said that they would like to see a space for students different from what exists in Leavey Center. “We don’t want it to become another Leavey Center dominated by the Marriot. [Leavey]’s not very student-friendly … It’s hard for students to identify a place on campus that they can call their own,” Ayer said.
The Middle States Accreditation report released by the Provost’s Office this March stated that students need more space on campus, Bridges said.
Bridges and Ayer said that they envision a space run by a student union that will be self-sustaining. There is no set plan for the remodeled space.
“We will talk to as many people as possible to get ideas,” Bridges said. She said that she would like to see a physical place where all clubs can gather, as well as a social area and a cafe open 24 hours.
ANC Commissioner Peter Pulsifer expressed his support of the motion.
“It will greatly strengthen the University in its mission to provide the highest level of education … It helps foster a sense of student community,” he said.
ANC commissioners said that they hope that more on campus student space will benefit the community by reducing crime and providing alternatives to activities in the Georgetown area.
“It could lower crime status because students won’t be coming back and forth at late hours,” ANC Commissioner Scott Polk said.
“It’s an alternative activity to reduce the role of Georgetown ABC [Alcohol and Beverage Commission] establishments, at least we hope it will be,” Pulsifer said, in reference to bars in the Georgetown area.
Polk called the New South student space “wholesome recreation.” Although students are welcome in the community, Polk said that he hopes more on campus space will keep students from “wandering around and making something happen” off campus.
Ayer said that he thinks more student space will benefit the community. “I think we will be very surprised at the number of students that will come out if there’s places on campus that provide a safe alternative to drinking,” Ayer said.
Students feel they must leave campus to meet in a social atmosphere over the weekends, Bridges said. “They don’t feel that this campus is theirs on the weekend … They feel that DPS [Department of Public Safety] is down their throat,” Bridges said.
Bridges said that students need a place to gather on the weekends. “There is no main place that’s open 24 hours a day except for the library. And who wants to go to the library on a Friday night?” Bridges said.
ANC Commissioner Justin Kopa (CAS ‘03) called the measure a “friendly recommendation” to Georgetown University.
“It’s always important for the ANC as an elected body to put our two cents in,” Kopa said. “We’re just trying to give Georgetown University support.”
