CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY MARCH RADNESS WINNER ANNOUNCED ON PAGE 9 california university of Pennsylvania
march 29, 2013
vol. 34, No. 7
IN THE
NEWS S.A.I. proposed budget 2013-14
The Student Association Inc. (SAI) student cabinet approved the proposed budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year in the amount of $3,122,326. All fulltime SAI fee-paying students get a vote to approve or reject the budget on April 8.
Page 3
OPINION same-sex marriage debate
As the U.S. Supreme Court considers arguments this week on the consitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, the national debate continues. How do you feel about samesex marriage? It’s a question we’ve been exploring in this country for some time.
Page 8
THE ARTS hollywood in brownsville
In recent years, the Pittsburgh region has been in the Hollywood spotlight for location filming. Now, the Brownsville Film Office is working to bring more movie-making opportunities to the area surrounding Cal U.
Page 5
Student Center renovation set to begin in May
An artist’s rendering of a new rotunda to be added to the Natali Student Center during the expansion and renovation project.
by Jose
Negron
staff writer
About 20 years ago, Pittsburgh based architectural group WTW Architects gathered here at California University of Pennsylvania to build what we now know as the Natali Student Center. The Student Center has provided Cal U students with various everyday needs including food from the many available options, books and other school necessities from the Cal U bookstore and entertainment from places such as the billiards hall and Vulcan Theatre. The same architecture group that built the facility two decades ago plans on expanding and renovating the student center to bring it up to today’s standards. The renovation project, which was favored by students in a vote taken in 2011, will begin May 20, 2013 – right after the commencement ceremonies for graduating seniors. The construction project will be a two year phase project that is expected to bring big changes to the facility and provide students with many new additions, including a new main dining center and a new heritage lounge which will provide students with much more public space. “For the student center, there will be two additions to this building, an east and a west addition that will occur first,” said Dean of Student Services Larry Sebek. “After that process is completed, we will work to come into the interior of the
building and do renovations there.” The student center will remain open during the renovation process, however, during the second phase of the renovations, the food court will be relocated to the Performance center and the Gold Rush will be relocated to Gallagher Hall. During this time the food court and Gold Rush will undergo a renovation process. “I think it’s definitely going to boost enrollment and appeal to new students,” said Andy Tuzikow (freshman, biology). “The renovation would defi-
nitely make the student center look even more distinguished than it already is.” The process is set to take about 2 years and should be finished in the year 2015. The renovation, although voted on by students who may not see the completion of the renovation project, is sure to be something that will benefit current Cal U freshman and sophomores as well as incoming Cal U students. “It’s the students taking the foresight to vote on something that they won’t be here to have,” Sebek said. “Freshman will have about two years of struggle dur-
ing the process, but two years of enjoyment. If the students 20 years ago did not have the foresight or the vision, we would not have this building we have today. I truly believe it’s the students leaving a legacy for future generations at this university.” When it’s completed, this renovation will benefit every member of the community here at Cal U. There will be a time where getting around the student center may seem inconvenient, but the improved version of an already useful and impressive building will be very much worth it.
artist’s renders by WTW Architects The Natali Student Center renovation includes the addition of a large rotunda with a public gathering space to be called the Heritage Lounge.
FOR NE W S , SCORES, AN D VID EO ON D EMAND , VISIT THE CAL TIMES NE W S SITE ON - LINE - WWW. CALTIMES.ORG