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Campus Celebrates New Student Services Center
Ioana Patringenaru | May 14, 2007
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| Chancellor Marye Anne Fox danced with UCSD's mascot before the dedication ceremony. |
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“One, two, three!” About 300 voices counted down and cheered as students unfurled a banner welcoming everyone to the dedication of UCSD’s new Student Services Center. Then 500 blue and gold balloons flew up into the sunny Friday afternoon sky.
The center will serve as a one-stop shop in the heart of campus for undergraduate and graduate students. It now houses financial aid, the registrar, the central cashier, the office of graduate studies and many other departments.
“The Student Services Center is truly a facility focused on students, their welfare, their academic achievement and future,” Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph Watson said.
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| Vice Chancellor Joe Waston served as the event's master of ceremonies. |
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The building went up in the past two years, but it’s the result of 20 years of planning and research, he added. Watson played an instrumental role in making the new building a reality, Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said. “Without his leadership and vision, this center wouldn’t have come to fruition,” she said.
The building will become a new hub for student life, Fox predicted. Its meeting rooms, including a 300-seat multipurpose room, will be available for student organizations as well as community use on weekends.
“This is truly an exciting day in the life of the university,” she said.
The center will definitely make students’ lives easier, said Graduate Student Association President Garo Bournoutian and Associated Students President Marco Murillo. Murillo thanked everyone involved in the project, from Chancellor Fox to construction workers, especially staff members. “This is truly an exciting time for UCSD,” he said.
The new center demonstrates the campus’ commitment to its students, current and prospective, said Judy Sakaki, University of California Vice President of Student Affairs, who also spoke during Friday’s dedication ceremony. She said she hopes the new environment will foster team work, new initiatives and collaboration between different departments. “We have yet to imagine the limitless possibilities,” she said.
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| About 500 balloons were released. |
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After the dedication ceremony, visitors took tours of the building. The Office of Graduate Studies took on a festive air, with flowers in most cubicles and offices. Some staff members put quite a bit of effort into decorating their new work spaces. Assistant Dean Tom Johnston’s office was particularly popular during tours. He hung racks of ties and pictures from his ceiling. A few yards away stood a fish tank, which made the move from the office’s old location near Outback Adventures. “It’s great having students being able to find us,” said staff member Carol Uribe. The office’s new digs are really nice, she added.
The five-story, 76,000-square-foot building houses more than 400 UCSD employees.
Other departments located in the new building include admissions and relations with schools, student policies and judicial affairs, student safety awareness program and student business services. About 40,000 people a year are expected to visit the building’s new multipurpose room, making it one of the most visible and widely used facilities on campus. Two restaurants also are set to open this summer and fall.
The building was designed with numerous environmentally friendly and sustainable features. For example, blinds are made of recycled plastic lumber, coming from grocery bags. Restroom tiles are made of recycled glass.
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