Campus Life elevates students to higher level

Friday, January 13, 2012

By Stephanie Taylor

Campus Life has officially moved into its new home on the second floor of the newly renovated Student Union.

"We are pretty excited about it," said Kent Sampson, Campus Life director. "This is a prime piece of real estate."

The Student Union renovation was a $63 million project and more than two-thirds of it was funded by students. "It's an amazing location that gives Campus Life the ability to do what we do best – serve students," said Ruthie Loffi, Campus Life administrative assistant.

There are 465 student organizations on campus and 33 student module areas in the new Campus Life office space, according to Sampson. As of this week, 27 module areas are already reserved by student organizations, leaving six open for student groups to drop in and out.

"Campus Life is eager to use the high visibility of this place to reach more students," said Loffi. "We hope that they will become more aware of the programs and services we offer through student organizations and leadership opportunities."

Sampson expects that the move from the basement to the second floor of the Student Union will bring more energy and life to student organizations and to life outside the classroom. "People enter and exit the Student Union about 1.5 million times each day on an annual basis, and our goal is to use the new renovations to increase that number and reinvigorate Campus Life and the Student Union as a whole."

The plans for renovations to the Student Union began about four years ago with a survey and student focus groups. The most common response from all the feedback involved the need for more open space. OSU students toured 10 universities with newly renovated and newly built student unions. The students came from five student leadership groups, including the Student Government Association, Student Union Alumni Board, Multicultural Affairs, International Student Association and the Off Campus Student Association.

"What we found from our research was that students like to see and be seen," said Sampson. "Students' energy and activity thrives off of one another."

The campus was in need of an outlet for students to study, have small groups and meeting areas, and to interact. With the open space in the new Campus Life area and the shorter student module areas, the plan was to create more open space and to make student organizations and interaction a priority, he said.

"We are really excited about being back in the union, and even more excited that Campus Life is now located on the second floor," said Ashley Leonard, president of the Student Government Association. "This is going to make us much more visible to current and prospective students, and give us a better opportunity to promote the many ways that students can get involved on our campus."

Kyle Buthod, vice president of the Student Government Association, has been involved in the Student Union renovation since his freshman year at OSU. He served on the Student Designer Advisory group that helped develop plans for the design and layout of the union.

"The university took what students have been saying the past few years seriously and made students the emphasis at the union," said Buthod. "The Student Union is the students' 'go to' place. It's the only building on campus that is ours and has been since 1950 when it was built."

Sampson agreed about the importance of student life to the university. "Putting Campus Life on the second floor really shows how we value students at Oklahoma State University," he said.