At a faculty senate meeting on Nov. 28, Saint Louis University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., implied that he was leaning toward renovating and expanding Busch Memorial Center rather than building a new student union.
Biondi has received a report on the feasibility of a student union on SLU’s campus. Apparently, it has been sitting on his desk for over a month now, but he has yet to react to it.
One might gather from this information that the report probably suggests that SLU revamp BMC. But students do not need a renovated and expanded BMC. They need-and should call for-a new facility.
BMC is outdated and inadequate but crammed to its walls by student and University organizations, just like SLU residence halls.
For its time-the 1960s-BMC was a great facility. The building provided needed space for student groups to assemble and for commuter students to congregate between classes.
But over the past 30 years, SLU’s population has grown, and BMC can no longer accommodate every student organization.
More space is needed not only for student organizations but also for University departments. The department of Residence Life is packed into third-floor offices the size of an elevator. Student Life is in the same situation. Claims have been made that there isn’t quality electrical wiring, and there are leaks in the roof.
In addition, location is not key for the BMC. Whether we like to admit it or not, students consider Grand Boulevard and Laclede Avenue as barriers.
If BMC were located within the domain of SLU-that is, directly along West Pine Mall or along the Spring walkway-more students would be apt to visit the building more often.
Look at where most students congregate after class. There are three areas: Boland Plaza (the Quad), the clocktower and in front of Xavier.
Why is this? I attribute it to people feeling more comfortable within the confines of the core of campus. There aren’t any cars around, and all the pedestrians are fellow students.
Meanwhile, BMC is located at a busy intersection, not only for cars but for non-SLU people. Some students might feel that when they step out of BMC they are no longer on campus.
If a student union was more centrally located, more student traffic would flow through it.
Also, a new facility would fit more needs-for students and faculty. More space could be set aside for student organization offices, administrative offices, meeting rooms, a new food court and classrooms, among other possible things.
The solution? Dump the swimming pools and tear down Bauman-Eberhardt Gymnasium. Build the new student center there. The space seems large enough to accommodate a two- or three-story student center to fit the student population at SLU.
It’s a complex idea, and I’m sure it could upset many people, but it’s the best one, and it could work.
What about Bauman-Eberhardt? Where would the basketball teams practice, and where would the women’s team play its games?
Destroy BMC. Build a new gym (similar in seating size) at the old BMC location. There, the gym would be near the other athletic facilities. The new location is also at a high traffic area, which could make the public more aware of Billiken basketball.
Also, the University could give each athletic coach his or her own office space, instead of cramming the baseball, softball and swimming coaches into inadequate office spaces. Improved weight-room facilities could also be planned.
Of course, all of this would take time and put some burdens on the University administration and the students. Sacrifices would have to be made. But it would be a worthwhile endeavor that could enhance student life.
And isn’t that the purpose of our University?
Renovating and expanding BMC would take too much time, inconvenience too many people and would probably not be cost effective. The above solution provides students a union more central to campus and more serviceable to students.
Biondi shouldn’t procrastinate any further on the matter. Let the plans be known to the students. And if those plans call for renovations, students should oppose them.
The plan above must not necessarily be the plan. But SLU students need a new student union, not a renovated one.
