Further conversations with clubs still to be had
The Central Student Association (CSA) approved the blueprints for the renovations to the club space on the second floor of the University Centre (UC) in a board meeting on Wed, Feb. 8.
The approval means that construction can go ahead on schedule and the renovations can be completed by the beginning of fall 2017.
Changes were made to the blueprints after the CSA heard the sentiments of many clubs who spoke to them unofficially after the AGM had concluded on Feb. 1.
The CSA’s finance and operations commissioner Ryan Shoot outlined the new blueprints to the board at the Feb. 8 meeting.
The floor plan will include a storage room for the CSA, meeting rooms that accommodate between six and 25 people, and a 24/7 private safe space room. A full floor plan for the renovations can be found on the CSA website.
“These changes were well received from clubs with and without space,” Shoot explained during his presentation to the board. “We noticed that clubs with space had a lot of ideas and clubs without space immediately joined in and said ‘we have no idea because we never had that opportunity.’”
The renovations aim to provide an equal opportunity for all clubs on campus by giving them access to same space. The biggest change to the new floor plans is the addition of the private room.
“I’m happy that [the CSA] has implemented this private 24/7 space, that was very positive for us,” said Adam Kozak, president of the FLASH club, in an interview with The Ontarion. “I think that a lot of club members are going to be happy to hear that something is getting through.”
Kozak also added that, “It’s still not exactly what the clubs are going for.”
Eric Peacock, a member of the FLASH, games, and the Electronic Gaming Organization (EGO) clubs, said that there is likely no situation that will make everyone happy.
“I just want the same kind of space that I have now, where I can go in and I know there will always be people there with similar interests to me,” Peacock explained to The Ontarion.
Although Peacock says the space is in desperate need of renovation, he argues that it needs less remodelling.
There are currently 27 club offices on the second floor of the UC. However, there are over 100 clubs on campus. The renovations to the club space will allow for more clubs to have access to storage space, meeting space, and a safe environment.
“We are 100 per cent willing to work with other clubs in order to give them that same opportunity,” said Kozak. “That’s why I do really like the 24/7 private space, it seems like it’s going to be difficult to manage though. But, the fact that it will be there is something positive and I think that it will allow a lot of other clubs the same type of anchor and resource that we have.”
There are still more conversations to be had between the clubs and the CSA and Kozak said that they are willing to work within the parameters of the approved blueprints to find a solution that they feel is a better fit for everyone.
“There’s lots of different directions this can go, like an application process to get a room,” added Peacock. “Maybe we share a room—we’re already sharing two clubs to a room, maybe we go three or four clubs to a room.”
With construction on the space starting this summer, the clubs will be working closely with the CSA to present their ideas and amendments to the blueprints.
The Ontarion reached out to clubs who are currently in need of space, such as Universities Fighting World Hunger, University of Guelph Relay for Life, and Hands of Latin America, and to the CSA clubs coordinator, but did not hear back at the time of publication.
Photo by Mariah Bridgeman/The Ontarion.