The first-floor lounge in Ohio University's Baker
Center has been re-opened for student use, with most of the planned changes for
the lounge already in effect.
According to Sujit Chemburkar, executive director of
event services for OU, the official opening and corresponding ribbon-cutting
ceremony will not be until fall 2012. The lounge has makeshift tables and
chairs for West 82 restaurant lunch-goers in the meantime.
The concept of a lounge re-vamp originated in Student
Senate and included a makeover of everything from the walls to the beverages
available nearby. Unfortunately for age-eligible students, the new tables at
Baker don't come with a liquor or beer menu.
"There was never going to be a bar," Chemburkar said.
"I think that initially I was asked about that at a Student Senate meeting, and
what I said was spun into 'a bar.'"
In an interview last year, he clarified the point by
saying that the university, with its all-facility alcohol license, might at
some point consider allowing events that serve alcohol in the new lounge area.
Bar or no bar and finished or un-finished, students
seem happy to be back in the lounge and are enjoying the fresh coat of paint.
"Since it's in the student center, I think the lounge
should have some sense of school pride," said junior Michael McFadden.
The already-made changes include – in addition to
flat-screen televisions and a stage with a piano – walls covered in the Bobcat
colors and two enormous Ohio University decals.
"There should probably be a few more chairs and maybe
some couches, but I do like the color," said freshman Erin Feeney. "The color
makes it homey."
Having a space in Baker Center that is Ohio
University-themed was one of the main goals behind the lounge renovation.
"There weren't any areas in Baker that let you know
"you are at Ohio University," and we wanted to add that," said Chemburkar, who
has accepted a student center directorship with a college in Florida.
A campus destination that encourages school spirit
was one of two primary purposes to change the lounge; the second reason was to
provide ample space for local meetings, seminars, etc., according to
Chemburkar.
"In Baker Center, you can walk from the first to the
fourth floor and not realize that the building is filled with conference
rooms," he said.
He noted that the new Baker lounge, when completed,
will be not just a chill-zone for students but also a prime location for local
residents to hold events.
"Programmers that want to see and be heard might want
something that is more visible, and we wanted to change the Baker lounge for
this purpose," Chemburkar said.
A space big enough for programs is also big enough to
house students-on-the-go, such as freshman Nicole Amari.
"I probably wouldn't choose to study here, but I
think that it's a good place to go in between classes," Amari said.
Students' approval of the space is no surprise,
considering the amount of influence that they had on the improvements.
"We had student input on everything down to the color
of the carpet," Chemburkar said. "Nothing was too difficult to get, since so
many people were drawn to the idea."
Previously, the space mainly held pool tables, though
one remains in the area.
The buzz on campus last year concerning the lounge
was filled with lots of alcohol-talk, especially since Baker Center already has
a licence for alcohol sales.
"Alcohol policies haven't been finalized yet for
safety reasons," Chemburkar said.
Concerning alcohol in the Baker lounge, Chemburkar
added, "There are still some conversations about that."
Until those details have been finalized, students
will have to settle for their new color scheme and a delicious burrito from
West 82.
