The Insiders
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Jan
21
Issue of the Day: Student Space
Posted by: Neal Yonson | January 21, 2007 | 22 Comments
(If you haven’t filled out the survey, please check out the post below this one… we appreciate it!)
Ironically (given the construction), student space is hard to come by on this campus. It generally exist in three forms:
- Space in University buildings. This includes faculty lounges, lobbies, study rooms, etc.
- Undergraduate Society spaces. Including MASS, Ladha, The Cheeze, etc. These are paid for usually by student fees (with donor/University help), and administered by your undergraduate societies.
- SUB space. The AMS controls almost all the space in the SUB, with the exception of the cafeteria and Starbucks on the main floor. They also control all the rooms, which can be booked.
Control of the SUB Space is under the control of the VP Admin, and renovations are overseen by the VP Finance. Most changes have to be approved by Council. So it’s very relevant to the AMS elections; the people you elect are responsible for making sure the SUB meets your needs.
So does it? In recent years, they’ve renovated the conversation pit (the airport lounge), the Gallery (new paint), the Council Chambers (bet you never noticed that one), the curtains in the Ballroom, taken out the arcade and replaced it with meeting rooms, added the Honour Roll, put in sliding doors then promptly removed them. Do you like the SUB? Do you spend time there? What kind of space do you want/need?
Comments
22 Comments so far
I believe that the cafe in the AMS building should have longer opening hours during exam time. During weekends or hours after 5pm , the large and potential study space in the cafe is closed. If the cafe can at least open for 24 hours during exam period, that can help out the students a big deal because the library can only open till 1am in the morning.
Alfie, Senate Candidate
I believe that the cafe in the AMS building should have longer opening hours during exam time. During weekends or hours after 5pm , the large and potential study space in the cafe is closed. If the cafe can at least open for 24 hours during exam period, that can help out the students a big deal because the library can only open till 1am in the morning.
Alfie, Senate Candidate
I HATE the conversation pit. So ugly, so creepy, and when you sit down in it, you feel like a hobo sleeping in a Greyhound station. Also, we liked the arcade…
I HATE the conversation pit. So ugly, so creepy, and when you sit down in it, you feel like a hobo sleeping in a Greyhound station. Also, we liked the arcade…
Click here for some ideas from Maxwell Maxwell regarding use of SUB space.
Click here for some ideas from Maxwell Maxwell regarding use of SUB space.
I’ll just note that it’s one of the greater ironies of student government that we constantly ask for more consultation with the University about campus development, and no renovation of the Student Union Building would ever pass our own standards. I’ve never seen open houses, public meetings, etc. about these kinds of things by the AMS.
Of course I am as much to blame as any former exec but hindsight shows that the complaints re: hobo urination/occupancy of the Conversation Pit were maybe from a smaller portion of the population that we previously thought and a consultation process would have shown that.
I’ll just note that it’s one of the greater ironies of student government that we constantly ask for more consultation with the University about campus development, and no renovation of the Student Union Building would ever pass our own standards. I’ve never seen open houses, public meetings, etc. about these kinds of things by the AMS.
Of course I am as much to blame as any former exec but hindsight shows that the complaints re: hobo urination/occupancy of the Conversation Pit were maybe from a smaller portion of the population that we previously thought and a consultation process would have shown that.
That is actually part of my platform – developing a comprehensive plan on what students would like to see in our SUB.
Part of what I will do as VP Admin is exactly that. I will hold focus groups, create a survey and have forums to get student input so we can put together a cohesive plan on what students want. With that, we can actually start a fundraising campaign or lobby the university for money to either renovate/add to the current SUB or, more likely, build a new one.
That is actually part of my platform – developing a comprehensive plan on what students would like to see in our SUB.
Part of what I will do as VP Admin is exactly that. I will hold focus groups, create a survey and have forums to get student input so we can put together a cohesive plan on what students want. With that, we can actually start a fundraising campaign or lobby the university for money to either renovate/add to the current SUB or, more likely, build a new one.
For someone who’s generally very involved with the AMS, I have to say I spend a shamefully small amount of time in the SUB. I go there to patronize AMS businesses or meet in Council chambers, but never stick around longer than I have to. Why? It’s loud and dark and somehow looks dirty even when it’s not.
When I moved out of res for the first time and suddenly needed places to work or kill time between classes, I always ended up in the libraries or the SUS lounge (which is now the Ladha building! Yay!). I generally also avoid holding meetings/events in the SUB whenever I can, because the meeting rooms are bare and uncomfortable, the ballroom is cavernous (even when it’s packed)and ugly, and when I book through classroom services I don’t have to wait two weeks to get SAC approval.
For someone who’s generally very involved with the AMS, I have to say I spend a shamefully small amount of time in the SUB. I go there to patronize AMS businesses or meet in Council chambers, but never stick around longer than I have to. Why? It’s loud and dark and somehow looks dirty even when it’s not.
When I moved out of res for the first time and suddenly needed places to work or kill time between classes, I always ended up in the libraries or the SUS lounge (which is now the Ladha building! Yay!). I generally also avoid holding meetings/events in the SUB whenever I can, because the meeting rooms are bare and uncomfortable, the ballroom is cavernous (even when it’s packed)and ugly, and when I book through classroom services I don’t have to wait two weeks to get SAC approval.
You’re all right – the SUB can be a very scary, creepy, ugly place.
A major problem I see is that SUB renovations are generally done in a very piecemeal fashion, rather than tackling larger areas as a whole.
One thing I’d like to do as VP Finance is to push the Renovations Planning Group to go for larger projects, establishing coherent design and a look for the SUB that won’t make students feel “like a hobo sleeping in a Greyhound station.”
The idea of having an AMS newsletter – whether it comes out biweekly, monthly, via email, or an actual handout – would offer a great opportunity for the AMS to inform and engage students about upcoming SUB renovations, as well as ask them what areas of the SUB they feel need attention.
I think the ultimate goal is to be able to secure enough money to build a new, less ominous SUB with increased social and study space. Many students I’ve talked to would support a one-time fee increase for a new SUB building.
You’re all right – the SUB can be a very scary, creepy, ugly place.
A major problem I see is that SUB renovations are generally done in a very piecemeal fashion, rather than tackling larger areas as a whole.
One thing I’d like to do as VP Finance is to push the Renovations Planning Group to go for larger projects, establishing coherent design and a look for the SUB that won’t make students feel “like a hobo sleeping in a Greyhound station.”
The idea of having an AMS newsletter – whether it comes out biweekly, monthly, via email, or an actual handout – would offer a great opportunity for the AMS to inform and engage students about upcoming SUB renovations, as well as ask them what areas of the SUB they feel need attention.
I think the ultimate goal is to be able to secure enough money to build a new, less ominous SUB with increased social and study space. Many students I’ve talked to would support a one-time fee increase for a new SUB building.
Sigh…I’m SUCH a dork now! Damn you, Tim!!!
Okay, here’s something else:
Both Sarah and Brittany took the default route when trying to show genuine advocacy: you went for a paper-pushing platform. “I will serve you by continuing to ask you for consultation on this issue. There is no end in sight, we will continue to keep things very open-ended and in all likelihood not get anywhere during my tenure as AMS rep.”
That’s what I hear when I hear ‘surveys,’ ‘consultation,’ ‘forums,’ and ‘lobbying.’
Why not go look up a UBC expert in architecture or contracting, get him on the phone and say, ‘hey man, the SUB is fucking ugly, dark and scary. As an architect/contractor, off the cuff, what steps do you think can be done about this within the span of a year? What do you think is the best way to go about it?” Then, if it makes sense to you, talk about THAT in your platform and then at least you’ll have some substance in it. And it shows that you know how to take direct action, consult with the right people and get to the bottom of things as efficiently as possible.
Consultation is the default. Everyone knows that unexperienced reps will push for more ‘consultation’ on stuff because that’s the standard way of
a) showing concern for students
b) giving the impression that you’re going to accomplish something
c) hiding the fact that you don’t really know what you’re doing yet.
M
Sigh…I’m SUCH a dork now! Damn you, Tim!!!
Okay, here’s something else:
Both Sarah and Brittany took the default route when trying to show genuine advocacy: you went for a paper-pushing platform. “I will serve you by continuing to ask you for consultation on this issue. There is no end in sight, we will continue to keep things very open-ended and in all likelihood not get anywhere during my tenure as AMS rep.”
That’s what I hear when I hear ‘surveys,’ ‘consultation,’ ‘forums,’ and ‘lobbying.’
Why not go look up a UBC expert in architecture or contracting, get him on the phone and say, ‘hey man, the SUB is fucking ugly, dark and scary. As an architect/contractor, off the cuff, what steps do you think can be done about this within the span of a year? What do you think is the best way to go about it?” Then, if it makes sense to you, talk about THAT in your platform and then at least you’ll have some substance in it. And it shows that you know how to take direct action, consult with the right people and get to the bottom of things as efficiently as possible.
Consultation is the default. Everyone knows that unexperienced reps will push for more ‘consultation’ on stuff because that’s the standard way of
a) showing concern for students
b) giving the impression that you’re going to accomplish something
c) hiding the fact that you don’t really know what you’re doing yet.
M
I find myself in agreement with Momoko on this issue.
AMS Council is not elected so as to poll the audience on what it should do. It is elected to act on behalf of students. Council has power to decide for a reason. Referendums also exist for a reason. To take every decision to a ad hoc committee or focus group becomes utterly redundant. “Should we do X? How about Y?… etc”
Council needs to be making decisions and then communicating these decisions to the student body. If the populace disagrees, it is their responsibility to take action to say as much.
Council can’t spend all its time worrying if every student will agree with this plan or that plan. There has to be a point where council just acts.
In my view, the problems with the SUB are too numerous and structurally-defined to be renovated away. There needs to be a coherent plan put into action for a new SUB building in the near future.
Meanwhile, all efforts must be done to use the existing space to maximum efficiency. Maxwell actually has a good point in that there are numerous SUB rooms on the 2nd floor that, in my experience, are idle for large portions of the time. Maybe I am wrong, but this is something that can not be tolerated. To have rooms sitting locked and idle with a social/study space shortage is downright silly.
I find myself in agreement with Momoko on this issue.
AMS Council is not elected so as to poll the audience on what it should do. It is elected to act on behalf of students. Council has power to decide for a reason. Referendums also exist for a reason. To take every decision to a ad hoc committee or focus group becomes utterly redundant. “Should we do X? How about Y?… etc”
Council needs to be making decisions and then communicating these decisions to the student body. If the populace disagrees, it is their responsibility to take action to say as much.
Council can’t spend all its time worrying if every student will agree with this plan or that plan. There has to be a point where council just acts.
In my view, the problems with the SUB are too numerous and structurally-defined to be renovated away. There needs to be a coherent plan put into action for a new SUB building in the near future.
Meanwhile, all efforts must be done to use the existing space to maximum efficiency. Maxwell actually has a good point in that there are numerous SUB rooms on the 2nd floor that, in my experience, are idle for large portions of the time. Maybe I am wrong, but this is something that can not be tolerated. To have rooms sitting locked and idle with a social/study space shortage is downright silly.
Please renovate the SUB so that the study spaces are more like study spaces, and less like…cafeteria tables.
In regards to what Peter said, having some folding chairs and tables set up in the meeting rooms on the second floor (during the daytime) that can be put away would greatly help the study space shortage, I think. (Unless these desks/chairs are there already) Students can easily set these things up themselves, and pack them away to the sides of the rooms when clubs shoo them away. Also, making it clear when a certain room in the SUB is available or not would be helpful–just a timetable stuck on the outer door would do.
Blahblahblah…
Please renovate the SUB so that the study spaces are more like study spaces, and less like…cafeteria tables.
In regards to what Peter said, having some folding chairs and tables set up in the meeting rooms on the second floor (during the daytime) that can be put away would greatly help the study space shortage, I think. (Unless these desks/chairs are there already) Students can easily set these things up themselves, and pack them away to the sides of the rooms when clubs shoo them away. Also, making it clear when a certain room in the SUB is available or not would be helpful–just a timetable stuck on the outer door would do.
Blahblahblah…
how about this
publish michael kingsmith’s budget. same go for bernie peets. make them accountable. designwise. we have experts in planning, architecture, and fine arts on this campus. why not pay a masters student to do a BRIEF study on the aesthetics so improvements can be made. everyone who approved the airport lounge should have to put pictures of it on their resume
the aesthetic in the SUB is terrifyingly embarrassing.
guys, what happened to the desks and tables? why all the tdcanadatrust chairs? and why does starbucks taste better than blue chip? why?
how about this
publish michael kingsmith’s budget. same go for bernie peets. make them accountable. designwise. we have experts in planning, architecture, and fine arts on this campus. why not pay a masters student to do a BRIEF study on the aesthetics so improvements can be made. everyone who approved the airport lounge should have to put pictures of it on their resume
the aesthetic in the SUB is terrifyingly embarrassing.
guys, what happened to the desks and tables? why all the tdcanadatrust chairs? and why does starbucks taste better than blue chip? why?