The game room is changing locations in order to accommodate the newly established Center for Community Engagement (CCE), taking over and expanding on the role of the current Community Outreach Center. To compensate for its extra responsibilities, the CCE will be hiring additional staff members.
Whereas the Community Outreach Center currently has two employees, the new center is expected to involve as many as seven to nine professionals, making it a much bigger program for the College. They are also currently engaged in a search for a new director.
Director the Campus Center and Associate Dean of Students Samuel Haynes explained that, given the importance of the CCE and the program it represents, much consideration and priority was given to its needs. "Over $13 million were raised to get this program [the CCE] started. It has been decided by the president that the Community Engagement Center will be there and ultimately that is why we'll be moving the game room."
Students had a variety of views regarding the prioritization of the CCE and allocation of resources.
"In comparison to other schools, our game room is pretty tiny," said Deidra Montgomery '10. "I'm sure there are other places where the Community Engagement Center can meet or have its office."
Yana Yushkina '10, supporting the decision, said, "I think this is a better use of the school's space and resources I think that since Amherst is such a privileged institution, it's good for students to get involved."
The new Community Center will take over the spaces currently occupied by not only the game room, but the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) Office as well. In turn, the AAS will be relocated downstairs to where the Outreach Office is presently located. According to Dean Haynes, the AAS was informed of this displacement late last semester.
Dean Haynes does not expect that the relocation of the game room will have a significant impact on students. Only a few minor changes are necessary to accommodate the change in dimensions involved with the move.
"If I had to speculate," said Dean Haynes, "we will probably lose a game table, because the footage won't be the same."
Everything else in the current game room, arcade machine and jukebox included, is expected to fit in its new location.
Despite the decrease in footage, Dean Haynes, engaging in meetings with Physical Plant, is enthusiastic about the move as it opens up possibilities for improving the facilities and upgrading the aesthetics of the room.
"We're looking into new refurnishing. Since we're doing this, we want it to look really good," said Dean Haynes.
However, some students feel that the planned improvements do not address do not address the current inadequacies of the game room.
"The room gets crowded enough as it is," said Yasmin Navarro '10. "When you bring your friends and try to play a game, there are not enough supplies. In my opinion they should make it bigger."
The McCaffrey Room has been the second most used space in the Campus Center. It also has been one of the most comfortable, easily accommodating 25 to 30 people for meetings and gatherings. It has not decided where it will be relocated.
Haynes is optimistic that the shifting of various offices will benefit the College. "I'm inclined to believe that it's going to be for the better of the community; I really do believe that," Dean Haynes said. "Although we're giving up the McCaffrey Room and Room 103, I think it's going to have an overall perfect fit for what the center is intended to do. It is hoped that having the new Community Engagement Center located in the Campus Center will foster use that in other locations would not be possible."
The construction for these changes will take place this summer, beginning right after Reunion Week. It will all be completed by the time students arrive back on campus in the fall.