Campion renovations do not serve students

The Hawk is now composing editorials as a staff. Each week at our editorial board meeting, we will discuss issues that we believe are on the minds of students, and put forth our consensus. To an extent, we also aim to reflect the general feelings of students. We invite letters to the editor in response to these editorials.

When St. Joe's announced last year that it would be expanding and renovating the Campion Student Center, the reception from the student body was, at best, lukewarm. While no one argued that the cafeteria was perfect, most students believed that improvements in food quality should take precedence over new tiles or chairs. Even the removal of the Hawk Rock was cause for disturbance, despite the fact that very few students frequented it often. It is now October, and while students have begun to warm to the idea of the new Crimson and Gray Cafés, legitimate concerns still persist.

The recent changes made across campus, and especially those in Campion, seem to cater more to prospective students than to those already enrolled at St. Joe's. While prospective students are undoubtedly important to the well-being of this university, it is the current student body that should be at the forefront of campus "improvements", not those who may or may not attend. The set-up does, in fact, look more like those in other prominent colleges across the country - but this is at the cost of convenience and community.

These aspects of a cafeteria, though, are probably much harder to see from the perspective of a visiting applicant than conveyor belts and a modern-looking environment.

The renovations in Campion create the potential for an enjoyable dining experience - or, a greater studying experience as a full, 24-hour study space. However, very little of this potential has been realized, and the cafeteria has quickly transformed from the center of campus activities to a place reserved almost exclusively for meal-plan users. Although the Crimson Café does admit non-meal plan students during lunch hours, the restrictions in place for the rest of the day lead to a less open and friendly experience. With only half of campus allowed in the café during dinner, the sense of community is quickly disintegrating. Student life - including campus clubs, organizations, and Greek life - has suffered to a certain degree since September with the absence of the Hawk Rock and easy entrances into the cafeteria.

Expanded facilities and continual construction do not, in any way, address the concerns that sparked numerous debates among the St. Joe's community last semester. Students expressed a desire for greater convenience, better quality of food, and a higher level of services in the cafeteria and throughout Campion. What has resulted is a barrage of technological advances without the amenities students actually need.

With little to no student input made for the Campion renovations, it's no wonder that so many students have found the changes to be less than commendable. Many cite inconveniences, long lines, and no notable improvement in the quality of meals. Options for various types of food are still extremely limited - there are very few vegetarian dishes or appetizing alternatives to pizza or a sandwich. In essence, St. Joe's has provided its students with the same problems in a better-looking environment.

Perhaps if students had been given a proper forum in which their ideas could be heard - and even implemented - in the development of construction and contract plans, the changes in Campion would have provided features which appealed to both the current and future needs of students.

This avenue of participation, however, was not offered - nor were the plans and distribution of funds adequately disclosed to the student body before university officials finalized the plans.

The same ideal of transparency that we demand from our politicians should be demanded of university officials who use our tuition dollars to finance renovations and alterations on campus. If their ultimate concern is serving students, then the costs and plans regarding such changes should be made clear to the individuals who, in essence, fund them. Students should be able to access information concerning planned renovations, campus additions, and university contracts - especially with Aramark. Currently, much of this information is hidden from the public and the student body.

Expansion and change are great - when they address the needs of those that they intend to serve. If the University is confident enough in their planned renovations and projects to spend millions of dollars executing them, it should also feel confident in sharing these plans with the students who will, ultimately, use them.