Camarillo, Calif., March 15, 2010 – When CSU Channel Islands (CI) students passed a referendum in 2006 to fund the design, construction, and operation of a new Student Union, its completion must have seemed very distant. But on Thursday, March 18 at 11 a.m., a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony will celebrate another significant milestone for the CI campus.
The 24,920 square foot Student Union will be the dynamic center for CI campus life; a place to study, to meet with friends, to grab a coffee, or just relax between classes. Most importantly, it is completely funded by the students.
The Student Union is overseen by the Associated Students Incorporated (ASI), made up of the ASI Executive Director and the ASI Board, an appointed and elected body consisting of students, faculty, staff, administrators and a community representative. The ASI Board establishes Student Union guidelines, advises the Executive Director and assists in the development and final approval of the annual ASI budget. All CI clubs and organizations, as well as other campus programs, are funded by ASI.
Jeremy Booker, a senior and ASI Chair, explained that he had been involved in the Student Union from the very beginning. The former library, located in the center of campus, was chosen to be the future site of the Student Union. He explained, “The student members of the ASI Board had the opportunity to impact all levels of the project, working alongside campus staff from Operations, Planning and Construction.” He added that, “It included furniture design, colors, the designing of specialty rooms and even naming of facilities within the Union.” Another positive aspect he noted was the food service in the Student Union will provide employment and training for student workers.
Sustainability was a primary focus of the design. As one example of thoughtful design, all lighting is on a sensor system. Lights brighten and dim according to how much natural light there is. Office lights come on when someone enters the office and turn off automatically if there is no movement.
The end result has something to please everyone. Dr. Genevieve Evans Taylor, Executive Director of ASI, said, “There is a large programmable area for student events and live entertainment; a dining center including a coffee house, pizzeria, sandwich deli and salad bar; lounges for informal gatherings; a game room with HD TVs, pool tables and computer gaming systems.”
Also located in the Student Union are ASI offices for Student Government, Student Programming Board, The Nautical Yearbook and the CI View campus newspaper. An added feature, the Tree House Courtyard will provide a place for outdoor events and gatherings for the entire campus community.
Jeremy Booker noted, “I think the building will become much more than the physical place, rather the very essence of the campus culture and life at CI.”
The public is invited to participate in events taking place the week of Grand Opening festivities March 16-18. For a schedule of activities, visit asi.csuci.edu.
For media inquiries contact Nancy Gill, Director of Communication & Marketing at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-8456 or nancy.gill@csuci.edu.
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CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.