Callahan Center makeover to benefit students
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By Aaron Biterman. Endicott Observer. Volume III, Issue 2. Endicott College, Beverly, Massachusetts. October 10, 2001 It's been a tough beginning for Bethany Lombard, the new Director of Student Activities at Endicott. But she's loving every minute of it. Ever since Lombard arrived at Endicott on September 17, she has been planning a complete redesign of the Callahan Center. Say good-bye to the current look, and get ready to see a new and improved center for student activities. The new center will be set up so that, "If students don't want to go back to their dorm rooms, they don't have to," according to Lombard. There will be four distinct areas in the new and improved center. First, there will be the restaurant area, including a daytime coffee house area in current pub location, the Pub in the evening, and the Solarium Cafe in the evening. The new coffee house area can be likened to The Perk on Friends. The coffeehouse/pub area is getting a complete makeover, starting with the addition of a stage in the far back corner. Small bands or comedians will be able to perform from the stage. The television that was in the far back corner will be moved to behind the counter. In addition, the stereo system and piano will be available for use. The pub will only be available for those 21 and over, however, the daytime coffeehouse area will be available for all students, regardless of age. For the pub, there will be a receptionist desk where employees will check identifications to assure that the 21-and-over policy is put into affect. The current tables will stay for a while, but will eventually be phased out. There will be an island addition in the center of the pub area that will not be done for two weeks, however, most of the rest of the coffeehouse/pub area will be completed within the next week. The current colors will be scratched with the help of the art department, and a more leisurely appearance will be present after the upcoming changes take affect. The Solarium Cafe which currently has a pool table in the middle of it blocking the flow of traffic, will have the pool table removed to make more room for tables. Why does the current food area have no tables? That's going to change with the addition of more tables and a back ledge with seats for people to sit down and relax at the Solarium Cafe. The second new area will be that of a game room atmosphere in the solarium. Pool and ping pong tables will be moved to the area directly behind the cafe to enhance the leisurely atmosphere at the student center. The third new area will be one of relaxation, with the additions of sofas and couches. It will be a sure hangout spot for many different clubs and organizations, and it will be located directly between the game area and the coffeehouse/pub area in the solarium. Lastly, the main room of the Callahan Center will beset up like a comedy club. The current old sofas and furniture will be distributed to various resident halls, and there will be new, up-to-date seats. The current stage will be kept, along with the big-screen television, and stadium seating will be implemented so that the higher seats are in the back, the medium seats in the middle, and the lower seats are in the front. The main room, in addition to the solarium, will be primary venues for student activity. Actually, the entire center itself will be where the bulk of student activities take place. The goal in the renovation of the Callahan Center is to "try to enhance the student life, really making this a student center," according to Director of Student Activities Bethany Lombard. Overall, the Callahan Center wants students to be there all the time. Lombard and the others who work there are hoping that this renovation will rekindle the interest in student activities of Endicott students. |
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