After several expansions in recent years and open office space becoming harder to find for administrators and student groups alike in the Student Union, the office of Student Life - a division of Student Affairs - announced late Friday evening that a new department will soon be opening in place of the current seating outside of Putnam's dining area on the building's ground level.
No students were present when the announcement was made.
Vice President of Student Affairs Dennis Black told the press that although the new offices are slated for what is now popular student seating, arrangements will be made for the benefit of the entire UB community.
"Life is a journey, not a guided tour... in conjunction with the Student Association (SA) we will extend the SU theater hours and students will be able to eat and drink in the theater," Black said.
Construction is slated to begin Tuesday and should be finished by the start of the fall semester, according to officials. According to preliminary plans, the new offices are slated for a new department specializing in office designation, as well as satellite offices for Parking and Transportation - students will still have to go to the department's Spaulding offices to take care of parking passes, parking tickets and other parking issues.
Another one of the offices will house a new program at UB, The Intercultural Warfare Diversity Center for Equal Opportunity Assistance in Conjunction with Special Events - the group will move into the SU within the year according to Bill Regan, newly-appointed chancellor of the conglomerate.
"I am thrilled at the new position and the new job," Regan said. "This office is set up for the students and we encourage them to visit because we will provide trinkets and free popcorn. We will be open every other Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., with only a short break for lunch."
The Student Association, which also lobbied for use of the newfound space, was not included in early blueprints.
"We were hoping that we could use the SU space for a 24 hour SA parking garage that could house our vans and trucks," said SA President Viqar Hussain.
Instead, Hussain has decided to build a garage with recycled pizza boxes left over from club events.
Black will also receive a new office when the construction is complete and has big plans for the space.
"I plan on giving back to the students that work hard everyday," Black said. "We will focus on those students later on down the line."
Female students of the seating area this week protested in masses complaining the ass size of the chairs are to small. According to Pam Dribble, a senior member of Sigma Tau Delta (STD) believes the school has failed to address the concerns of students.
"There is no room for regular size women in this seating area and now they are getting rid of it all together. Where am I going to put my bum," STD Dribble said. "They took PJ's - our night spot - and now they are taking my day spot."
The seating area is currently a hub for Greeks and the football team, who can be seen canoodling regularly on the benches adjacent to the tables. The decision was made in conjunction with UB 2020.
Not all staff is on board with the plan including Pamela Stephens-Jackson, Director and Protector of Greek Life. Stephens-Jackson, who denied The Spectrum's interview request multiple times, finally addressed the plan via voice mail.
"This idea is hogwash," Stephens-Jackson said. "We are spending all this money when we should be taking a more proactive role on off-campus frats. All those frats do is have fun and enjoy college life by providing a place for students to meet and start friendships and UB can't have that liability."
According to David Ballard, associate something-or-other for Student Life, believes the students should shut their "pie holes." He believes there are plenty of places to sit around campus.
"UB has a 30,000-person football stadium. Why not move all the students there," Ballard said. "Students are just breast fed bastards. When I was in school we stood when we ate."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
