Student leaders have mixed reactions to College, VPUL move

Student leaders said they had mixed feelings about the administration's decision to move the College of Arts and Sciences' office into Houston Hall. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum announced Monday the plans will also move the VPUL office to the Mellon Bank Building and the Office of Student Life, Activities and Facilities to an unknown location. All student government offices are currently located in Houston Hall, and student leaders said they are worried the moves will adversely affect them. "I'd hate to see our office be moved because we are a student organization and we need a central location," said Nominations and Elections Committee Chairperson Sharon Dunn, a Wharton senior. "It might be good for the College students, but they should look into keeping the offices that are in Houston Hall in Houston Hall." But according to McCoullum, student services will not be affected by the moves. Despite this, the unknown status of the Office of Student Life's future, however, worries many student leaders. "Both the VPUL and the College should be able to maximize their space," Undergraduate Assembly member David Heimann said. "The question is going to come down to how much of Houston Hall the College needs and how much room the VPUL needs. The Office of Student Life will probably go wherever there's space. "We have to make sure it's not just stuck in a corner where students can't get to it easily," he added. Student Committee on Undergraduate Education chairperson Matthew Kratter, an Engineering and Wharton junior, agreed. "The Office of Student Life must stay in Houston Hall," he said. Social Planning and Events Committee Chairperson Lissette Monge suggested the University move the Office of Student Life to the Theta Xi house. "A lot of students go through [to the Office of Student Life] because SAC and the SPEC advisor are there," she said. "How could you get more diverse than that?" Monge said wherever the office ended up, it should be in a "bigger and better place." Even though these student leaders said they worried about the future of their offices, they did say that the move does "makes sense" for the College. "Now that it seems that Revlon is a go, I think the move makes sense," Heimann said. "When Revlon was up in the air, it scared students because it seemed there was a lack of committment. Now it seems like the right thing to do." Heimann, a College senior who is chairperson of the UA's Campus and Facilities Committee, added that the College's new location might allow its advising system to become more "user-friendly." Monge, a College junior, said the College move was "necessary." "The College is definitely moving to a better place," she said. "I think it's good that it's moving to Houston Hall because Houston Hall won't ever lose the student atmosphere." Each student government member said they were prepared to watch and react to the situation. "This will affect offices that students use, and at times you wonder if students on this campus know what's happening," Heimann said. "They should definitely keep an eye on it, and I think it's very important that the UA and other student leaders keep an eye on what's happening as well."