Recognizing the past, embracing the future

Past officers and council members of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) and Graduate Student Association (GSA) will join together again with the opening of the new Joe Crowley Student Union.

Events
A host of open house events will be held Nov. 15-17, with Saturday, Nov. 17’s open house welcoming home past ASUN presidents Frankie Sue Del Papa, Jeff Champagne, Erin Lankowski, Glen Krutz, previous associate vice president for Student Life Services Rita Laden, former University president Joe Crowley and others.

,b>Ribbon cutting
The Nov. 17 event will be held from 2-5 p.m. on the third floor of the new union. A ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks will occur in the ASUN President’s room at 3 p.m. and the Rita Laden Senate Chambers dedication begins at 4 p.m.

Dedication
Rita Laden served as an administrative faculty member on campus since her appointment as coordinator of campus standards in August 1984. She has had more than two decades of campus leadership roles as the University’s judicial officer, Greek adviser, Associated Students manager and as associate vice president for Student Life Services.

The Joe Crowley Student Union project has been a hope of the University and the institution’s student leaders for many years.

The new union project
The project was kicked into high gear by ASUN President Alicia Lerud in early 2003 when she put forth a resolution for the expansion of student life facilities, which included a new union.

As a result, ASUN and GSA leaders worked with the administration to develop an Education and Survey Working Group. This group was made up of students, faculty, and staff who were for, against, and neutral about the potential project. An outside consultant was hired to develop a thorough feasibility study to determine if this project was both needed and wanted by students.

The information gathered through the extensive survey process and student input helped prove that a change was necessary. The bookstore routinely had to close during the first few weeks of classes because it exceeded fire code capacity.

Each year, the Jot Travis Student Union (JTSU) turned away about 25 reservations per week, due to a lack of space. The campus had grown to the point where there was no longer convenient parking or shuttle stops to the Jot Travis Student Union.

Advancing on Joe Crowley
Construction began in March 2003. The Joe Crowley Student Union is a 167,000-square-foot, “green,” environmentally friendly facility. It is double the size of the Jot Travis Student Union, which has served as the University’s student union since 1958.

Some of the things to look forward to in the new union are student lounges and meeting rooms with fabulous views, a 220-seat movie theatre and event spaces such as a ballroom that can seat up to 1,200 people for large events.

There are several shaded patios and outdoor seating areas with easy access to the food court and sports grille. There will also be increased outdoor programming areas for bands and movies, increased space for the ASUN, the GSA, and the Center for Student Cultural Diversity. The Nevada Sagebrush, the campus’ student-run newspaper, and Wolf Pack Radio are also moving into the new building.


Hey, Joe?
Students chose to name the Joe Crowley Student Union in honor of Joe Crowley, who served for 23 years as president of the University of Nevada, Reno. The building is primarily funded by self-assessed student fees as approved by the Nevada Board of Regents.

For a complete list of grand opening events, visit www.unr.edu

Nevada Sagebrush finds new home in ‘The Joe’
Brian Duggan anticipates that staff productivity will increase dramatically once the student newspaper opens its offices in the new Joe Crowley Student Union.

“It will definitely be a plus to have our offices in ‘The Joe’ since Starbucks and the convenience store will be downstairs,” said Duggan, editor of The Nevada Sagebrush. “The staff is excited already about having caffeine and food so close by.”

Moving into the Joe Crowley Student Union marks a return to campus operation for the student newspaper. For more than a decade, the Sagebrush has been located on North Sierra Street, across from the campus.

Currently, production and work areas are housed in separate suites, and drop-in student traffic is uncommon.

“Our current offices have lots of character – they’re old but they’ve grown on us,” Duggan said. “The new office is one big space. It will be more convenient and we’ll need to learn to work together in a new way. It’s exciting and frightening at the same time.”

Duggan is especially happy that the new office space brings the newspaper closer to University students. “We will be right next to who we cover all the time,” Duggan said. “Now, students can see their student newspaper in production and come by, pitch story ideas and interact more.”

Duggan has gained valuable experience as he and the newspaper staff prepared to relocate.

“Being an editor [of the Sagebrush] is one of the best learning experiences you can have on campus. This move added a new dynamic to my job in thinking about policies for interacting with student government officers, for example,” Duggan said.

The Sagebrush will also have new technology including computers and printers to streamline networking and production.

The Nevada Sagebrush will be visible during the grand opening of the Joe Crowley Student Union, Nov. 15 and 16. The offices, however, are scheduled to move and the end of December, during the winter break.

“We’re moving a few things like files and archived information,” Duggan said. “And the most important piece of furniture is also coming along – the editor’s desk. This old clunker has been the each Sagebrush editor’s desk since 1922 and it’s definitely coming with the newspaper.”

The Nevada Sagebrush has been in continuous publication since 1893. The newspaper is published every Tuesday during the academic year by the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN).