After 33 years, MUC may receive needed renovations

Maureen Hagrman
News Stringer

Since it was completed in 1967, the Morris University Center has been a place for students to grab a quick lunch, meet some friends, attend a seminar, catch a movie, bowl a game or two, or just hang out between classes.

The MUC is the students' building, providing services such as the copying and graphics center, the bookstore, the Kimmel Leadership Center and, of course, Center Court, giving them a place to hang out.

But big changes are on the way, changes that will mean even more service to students and changes that will cost an estimated $18.7 million, all of which will come from students' pockets. If these proposed changes are approved, they are expected to be completed by spring 2003.

These changes include a bigger food court with more services and a stage, turning the Opapi Lounge into a cyberspace coffeehouse, remodeling Cougar Den to look more like an Applebee's and, most importantly, infrastructure improvements such as new wiring for the 33-year-old building.

According to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel, now is the time for these renovations. He said the university has high enrollment, and he wants the university to be a home away from home to both commuter and residential students.

Emmanuel said he hopes the renovations will make the MUC a center for an exciting campus life.

"We want to change the image of the UC from being another building to develop a sense of community where students socialize and participate," Emmanuel said. "We want it to be the heart of social and campus life for students."

While the plans for many improvements are in place, university administrators are still open to new ideas. Students are invited to a series of meetings beginning Wednesday, Feb. 16, in Center Court. The meetings will run from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The renovations are still in the proposal stage. The SIU board of trustees must approve issuing bonds to cover the costs of the improvements. However, the SIUE Student Government Association and the SIUE administration will vote on the project before the trustees' approval is sought.