Grand opening of the Student Organization Center in the Bernhard Center following the Western Student Association meeting Wednesday evening. (Left-right) Ted Petropoulos: director of Bernhard Center, Diane Anderson: vice president of student affairs, Nate Knappen: WSA president, Adrienne Light: president of Campus Activity Board, WMU President John Dunn, and Chris Sligh: director of student affairs and leadership programs all welcomed the new RSO center. (Thomas Doherty/Western Herald)
Some student groups have a new place to call home.
Student Activities and Leadership Programs officially unveiled the new Student Organization Center in the Bernhard Center with a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The SOC, located in the back of the Bernhard Center near the rear entrance, includes a conference room and kitchenette and houses 35 RSOs and student groups that have moved over from the Faunce Student Services Building.
“This is an excellent opportunity for student organizations to be centrally located,” Chris Sligh, director of SALP, said.
“It adds visibility and credibility to our student organizations, and it gives an opportunity for student organizations to come through here and see what happens here.”
President John Dunn, Ph.D., and Diane Anderson, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs and dean of students, addressed attendees before the ribbon cutting.
“I’m going to miss you in Faunce,” Anderson told students. “But I’ll show up here whenever I can. There’s a tinge of sadness not having you all in Faunce anymore.”
Despite the sad tinge, Anderson said she knows RSOs belong in Bernhard.
“The Bernhard Center is the campus hub, the living room of campus,” Anderson said. “Students need to be here.”
The SOC project started about seven or eight years ago after a group of students discussed moving back into Bernhard from Faunce, where many were moved after it was built, Anderson said.
“We took groups of students to other student unions at other schools and the student helped design the area,” Anderson said.
“Students have been involved in every step of this process. What’s amazing is not just the space but what’s in the space. Great things are going to be built in this space, great things in terms of leadership on campus.”
Dunn echoed Anderson’s admiration of the students.
“What’s really good about this is that you’re students,” Dunn said in his address.
“I’d venture to say we have the best [student government]. I can say that with confidence having been through five campuses. You’re part of the team. You can remind us if we move off track. It’s your University.”
Dunn also enjoys how simple the SOC makes his trips in Bernhard.
“I’m proud of the work that’s gone into this,” Dunn said. “I can finally go from the front of the building to the back.”
The ribbon cutting included Sligh, Dunn, Anderson, Nate Knappen, Western Student Association president, Adrienne Light, Campus Activates Board president, and Ted Petropoulos, director of the Bernhard Center.
About four or five SOC offices are still open to RSOs.
For more information on getting an office in SOC, visit www.salp.wmich.edu.
