Campus Connection

By UW-L student intern Heidi Gempeler One year of construction is complete of UW-La Crosse’s New Student Center with about another year and a half to go. The massive structure, totaling at about 204,800 gross square feet, is being built at the corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street. The New Student Center trumps the size of Cartwright Center, the current student center, by about 66,000 square feet. Students are wondering, “When will the construction end? When can I use the New Student Center?” Construction began in October 2014 and is expected to be complete in November 2016, according to Larry Ringgenberg, director of University Centers. An opening date will be determined at a later date. In case you don’t know any of the juicy details about the New Student Center, here are is a list of 10 things students have to look forward to:

1. Are you hungry for cuisine that is more commonly found off-campus? Several cuisine options will be available in the New Student Center: Asian, pasta, a deli, soups and salads, Chef’s Choice, a grab-n-go bakery, grill, and even a Qdoba!
2. Where will we get our coffee without Einstein Bros Bagels in Cartwright Center? There will be a new coffee shop located within the New Student Center to allow for late night study sessions and plenty of caffeine.
3. Can’t find that perfect spot to study in Murphy Library? There will be several lounges that can be used as study spaces throughout the New Student Center that are ideal for both private and group study. One of the largest lounge spaces in the New Student Center will be located on the first floor.
4. But what will we do without The Cellar? The Entertainment Café on the lower level of the New Student Center will be an excellent place to sit and relax with friends or roommates over dinner or on the weekends. The E-Café will be served by an adjacent dining location. [caption id="attachment_42104" align="alignleft" width="600"] Entertainment cafe[/caption]
5. Are you involved in a student organization on campus? If you are a part of Student Association, The Racquet, Fraternity and Sorority Life Community (FSL), Campus Activities Board (CAB), Pride Center, diversity organizations, or the Leadership and Involvement Center, your offices will now be housed on the second floor of the New Student Center. Kaylee Otterbacher, Student Association president and Design Committee member, is the most excited for this space in the New Student Center because all student organizations will be housed in one large room with separate offices on wall linings. “I think this is going to be a huge opportunity for all of the student organizations to collaborate and work together on different projects and events,” she says.
6. If I am part of a student organization, where will our meetings be held? There will be plenty of meeting space located in the New Student Center for any student organization that needs to reserve it.
7. Did you know that the Admissions Office will be moving? The Admissions Office will be officially moving from the Cleary Alumni and Friends Center into the New Student Center once it's completed, and additional space will be provided for a Vanguard office.
8. Where will campus large events be held? There will be a larger multi-purpose performance area that is comparable to Valhalla on the second floor of the New Student Center. This allows more space for open-mic nights, campus events, speakers, banquets and concerts. [caption id="attachment_42102" align="alignleft" width="600"] Multi-purpose Room[/caption]
9. But where will we get our textbooks? A brand new Textbook Rental Center will be located on the lower level of the New Student Center once construction is completed.
10. Are you a part of Student Senate at UWL? Brand new Student Senate chambers will be housed on the second floor of the New Student Center.

Overall, Otterbacher hopes that the New Student Center will bring students to campus on both the weekends and evenings. “I’m excited to see the new energy that the building will bring to student life on campus,” she says. “I really hope that this building becomes a place for students to meet each other, hang out and exchange ideas. It is uncommon to see many students in Cartwright on the weekends right now, but I think that with the new building we will see more of our students spending time in the New Student Center.” [caption id="attachment_42107" align="alignleft" width="600"] Recreational space[/caption] Check out the New Student Center Facebook page for a detailed update on construction: UW-La Crosse Student Center (official).