A multicultural center. An official space for student organizations. A home for a larger bookstore.
A pub?
These were just a few of the myriad of ideas that were thrown out at a brainstorming session on Tuesday night hosted by President White to discuss Wabash’s Master Plan. Students, faculty and staff gathered in Baxter 101 to openly discuss ideas for what would be done with the Sparks Center site – from renovation to demolition of the existing building and a new center.
President White introduced Mr. Chris Chivetta of the St. Louis based architectural firm Hastings and Chivetta who will be in charge of crafting the master plan. The master plan is an overall physical layout map that controls for the current needs of the college as well as the perceived needs and expansion wants of the college in the future.
Mr. Chivetta noted that the ‘master plan’ is a part of the ‘strategic plan’, or the overall vision for the college. The ‘master plan is in a part of the goals President White is in the process of outlining in his first strategic plan.
“We don’t want to get master planning out ahead of strategic planning,” Mr. Chavetta said, “as we want to follow what the strategic plan says so we can incorporate some of the visions of the strategic initiatives into the master plan as well.
“We also want to address some of the short term or known challenges on campus as well,” he added, “like dining and food services, residence halls, outdoor athletic fields, renovations of existing buildings like Baxter and Center and upgrading facilities across campus.”
Mr. Chivetta’s firm was responsible for helping craft the previous master plan that led to the Allen Center, Hays Hall as well as the fraternity house constructions and renovations.
The most common theme that reverberated throughout the discussion was that whatever form the ‘student center’ would take, it needed to be a place where Wabash men, independent and student alike, could come together. Most in the audience recognized the fact that the college currently has no real space where this type of purely collegial interaction can take place. The most difficult question, in the minds of most assembled was to find the best way for students to interact.
One possibility, floated by Mr. Juan Carlos Venis ’09 would be a Multicultural Center.
“Wabash educates effective leaders and critical thinkers,” Mr. Venis said. “In my opinion, this type of student ought to exercise intellectual curiosity when it comes to his identity and that of others he interacts with. Multicultural awareness deals with issues of race among many other identity defining factors.
There are students, faculty, and staff members who have strong feelings when it comes to this topic,” he added, “and I think it's safe to say that many want to see a physical symbol of it on the campus. Ideally, this would include a cooperative effort between the international studies office, student and faculty organizations, and most importantly the associated curriculum.”
Many other ideas were brought to the forefront in discussion. Many of the students assembled thought it would be excellent to have rooms specifically designated for student organizations to meet and store items for their specific organization. One student noted that even though the Student Senate owns many different items, they are relegated to one single closet to store everything.
Another idea discussed would be to expand the bookstore or create an all new all night convenience store for late night purchases. Some were concerned with the cost effectiveness of having such a shop that caters to only 917 men.
The pub was another idea that garnered much discussion. Since Crawfordsville has few bars and one of the few burnt down this summer, the idea of having a place for social collegiality on campus for those who are of age might be appealing to students, professors, staff and the Crawfordsville community at large. Mr. Chivetta that on campus pub-like establishments have been attempted at places like DePauw University and Hanover College with mixed success.
President White noted at the end that the Tuesday meeting was the beginning of a long conversation on what the shape Wabash College will take in the next decade and encouraged Wallys to continue in the discussion.
Mr. Venis noted the importance of student voice at this most crucial point in the master planning phase.
“I want students,” he said, “to realize that the insights sought by the senior staff, board of trustees, and master planning consultants at this point of time are crucial to encouraging a healthy debate in the future as details regarding the college's plan begin to pan out.”