The first open forum on a new student center at Miami University, held Thursday, afforded Miami students the opportunity to offer input of what should be included in a new student center. The architectural firm hired by Miami, WTW Architects, is a premiere and professional firm with a great deal of experience designing student centers for college campuses. Their success in developing student centers was evident in their valuing the input of students and asking the questions necessary to construct a facility that would be used by students. The development of a new student center for Miami is a vital issue, but unfortunately students are not seizing this unique opportunity to offer their insight.
With only between seven and 10 students present for the forum, it is obvious that student turnout was very poor. While holding a forum at noon on a Thursday would conflict with classes, students need to offer their input-otherwise the architects and Miami may stop asking for input and construct a new student center that lacks the vital insight only students are able to provide. WTW Architects and Miami should team up again and hold an evening forum-in order to ensure classes are not a possible conflict for students.
The Miami Student editorial board urges students to take an active role in shaping Miami's future in the building of a new student center.
When parents and prospective students travel to Oxford to visit Miami, Shriver Center is often the first building they see. The importance of that location cannot be overstated.
The new location of the center is yet to be decided and this editorial board even found it difficult to establish a centralized location on Miami's campus for such a new building. The firm has quite a challenge ahead. This difficult decision should incorporate the insight of Miami architecture and interior design students-people with firsthand knowledge of Miami's history and needs. Certain students could aid in striking a compromise between Miami's signature red brick Georgian architecture and a facility with open spaces and windows offering inviting, natural light.
This editorial board believes, among many amenities, that a new student center should offer a new post office, the inclusion of more chain restaurants, a new mid-sized auditorium for theatrical productions and a 24-hour coffee shop. But without student input, ideas such as these may never be heard.
The construction of a new student center has taken on a new level of importance with sophomores soon having to live on campus and needing a viable alternative to weekend drinking and uptown bars. Weekend entertainment on campus is severely limited, with Shriver offering very little in terms of games and activities-despite AfterDark's noble effort. This is an exciting and changing time for Miami's historic campus-the new engineering and psychology buildings, the new Goggin Ine Arena and Heritage Commons make Miami a newly redeveloped campus and nationally competitive with its vision for the future and continued eye on its rich history.
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