With the opening of the Busch Student Center, student
organizations will have the opportunity to utilize office and
storage space in the newly renovated building.

The Student Government Association purchased computers and
office equipment for student organizations to use free of
charge.

“Organizations aren’t paying for the spaces–students pay $50
each term for space, so they won’t pay again,” said Assistant Vice
President for Student Development Phil Lyons.

Thirteen workstations and a larger conference area line a
spacious, open room on the second floor of the BSC. The
workstations, arranged as cubicles, are each equipped with a
computer and a filing cabinet that can be locked.

SGA and Student Life hope the new workstations will promote more
interaction between student groups and will better serve
organizations.

“There will be 11 reserved stations–two per cubicle–so a total
of 22 organizations. There will be two free workstations that will
have a sign in,” said SGA President Nick Sarcone.

“We will consider the aim of each organization and how they feel
about sharing spaces. Hopefully groups with similar interests can
share and won’t be put with groups that are diametrically opposed,”
Lyons said.

Although there is ample space to accommodate many organizations,
there is not enough space to provide a workstation for every
organization on campus. However, Lyons believes there is enough
space to accommodate groups that will be needing office space. The
length of time each organization will be guaranteed space is yet to
be determined, but if organizations do not use space
constructively, they will be warned and could face losing their
reserved area.

“If given space, the expectation is you will use it,” Lyons
said. “If another organization is extremely active and it will use
the space, and another organization is not using the space, that
space might be forfeited.”

Large groups that were housed in the old Busch Memorial Center and
temporarily relocated in Notre Dame Hall, including KSLU, The
University News, Alpha Phi Omega and the Black Student Alliance
were given office space in the new BSC and will not be contenders
for the workstations.

In addition to office space, student organizations will also be
able to utilize new storage facilities in the BSC. The new storage
cages will be particularly beneficial to club sports and
recreational organizations that need a lockable storage area.

Once applications are available, any student organization on
campus may apply for space by contacting SGA Executive Vice
President Maria Rodriguez once applications are available.

Applications will contain general-usage questions and may be
available as early as the middle of next week.

Sarcone anticipates that approximately 30 to 40 groups will
apply for the 22 assigned spaces and that selected organizations
will be able to move into their space near late September.