<p>This is one of the most commented articles in the student newspaper. This seems in line with past UChicago administrative decisions. The school seems to have a definite direction and agenda, and student input may be pushed to the side. </p>
<p>For me, despite all the change, UChicago still falls short in terms of an understanding of what college should be about - outside of great academics. There are, most likely, systemic frustrations still present there.</p>
<p>Yup. Terrible decision on the merits, indefensible on the process. No one who cared a whit about actual student experience could possibly have been involved in the planning, and those who were involved in the planning clearly didn’t think it was important even to raise a question about that. Could there be anything more ham-fisted and OCD than gutting one of the top two or three most popular, vibrant, unstructured, informal student gathering places to build cubicles where university administrators can meet with the heads of formally recognized organizations? (And could there be a stupider idea than having a bunch of administrators assigned to work in a student coffee shop?)</p>
<p>As many of the comments to the Maroon article point out, the relocation of UT means that there are significant unoccupied spaces in the Reynolds Club. I’m sure there are plans for that, too, but it really goes to show how far down the list of anyone’s concerns student life is.</p>
<p>But on the other hand it’s not like the space was taken to put in a power plant. The space is to be used for student organizations. So in theory, you are taking student space for student space. So it should be a wash, right? What’s that about UChicago where it works in practice, but does it work in theory? </p>
<p>But the process in which it was done appeared to be pretty ham handed. Can’t talk my way out of that one.</p>
<p>We’re probably on the same page, but to make it clear: this isn’t a swap for like spaces. The coffee shop was a key informal student space, and the proposed new advising space will be a formal, more regimented space. It’s not a swap of like for like. </p>
<p>This is very unfortunate, and I simply don’t have much confidence in the administration (which is not that different from when I actually attended UChicago, and confidence in the administration was similarly low). Again, to me, UChicago offers world-class academics, but there still isn’t enough awareness of all those other components that make for a strong college.</p>
<p>Just to be clear (for those of you who haven’t been there) – Hallowed Grounds is a really large student-run coffee shop, with lots of comfy chairs, several pool tables, and well-curated indie music. It’s on the second floor of the Reynolds Club, a centrally-located building which is the closest thing Chicago has to a Student Union. In addition to coffee and other drinks, it offers sandwich- and salad-type food from a variety of Hyde Park restaurants (or it did, until its refrigerator space goes away in this remodeling). It’s a great lunch or snack place for the half of the student body that doesn’t have a meal plan, and it’s a really popular place to hang out or meet up between or after classes. It also sponsors periodic fun events of sorts.</p>
<p>What seems to be happening is that they are building more office space for formal student clubs in the basement of the Reynolds Club, so they decided that they should move all the administrators the leaders of those organizations interact with periodically to the Reynolds Club as well. But there probably aren’t more than a couple hundred students who talk to any of those administrators in the course of a year, while thousands of students spend time in Hallowed Grounds at some point or another, some of them lots of time. Plus, as a former Head Judge of Scav Hunt points out, student club leaders won’t always want to meet with administrators in a public place.</p>
<p>That’s a great point, actually! I wish administrators would keep the “do no harm” point in mind. </p>
<p>I’m just not sure how administrators ever thought this was a good idea. If anything, I think Hallowed Grounds should be EXPANDED - not minimized. </p>
<p>Also, I get the sense that certain mixed use spaces - such as the Reynolds Club - are reaching capacity. In the near future, it might be time for a bigger “student union” sort of a place, as everything now is kind of decentralized - students meet in the Reynolds club, South campus, Logan probably hosts meetings, etc. I wonder, though, if this is really on the radar for the admins. </p>
<p>I think transforming henry crown into a large student union, and then maybe expanding Ratner to be the central gym facility, would be cool. Knowing the administration, though, some ugly modernist high rise will be next on the agenda.</p>
<p>This is outrageous. Almost no current students support this plan. Almost no current students are even ambivalent about this plan. Almost every student is against it. </p>
<p>Hallowed Grounds is one of the few all-purpose meeting spaces on campus, and it is a crucial student hub. It’s the only place you can talk and study, with the comforts of a lounge space, at the same time. It’s the only open space where you can hang out on campus on a weekday night. It’s the only place where you can relax in an armchair, play pool, and listen to loud music. It’s good for pretty much anything. And it gets filled up every afternoon. </p>
<p>I could list dozens of RSOs I know to have held productive informal meetings in the seating space at Hallowed Grounds, including every one I’ve ever been involved with. There’s a unique atmosphere in Hallowed Grounds that can’t be matched by the more generic C-Shop, Ex-Libris, Hutch Commons, etc.</p>
<p>ORCSA doesn’t care about student input. They’ve been pushing for this move for years, and just got the go-ahead to do it this year. They consulted six student leaders beforehand; five were vehemently against, the sixth didn’t care too much about the cafe itself but strongly objected to going against the interests of students. ORCSA went ahead anyway. </p>
<p>Yes, this is just a cafe, but it’s a cafe that embodies the combined social and academic experience of many students. It’s arguably the most unanimously appreciated spot on campus, and for the university to think they can just kill it is deeply troubling. </p>
<p>If this actually happens—and unless things change, it will—I would say one thing to prospective students on CC: go elsewhere.</p>
<p>Here’s the latest comment on the Chicago Maroon regarding the news of this coffee shop’s reduction:</p>
<p>" 4th Year Aug 9, 2013 at 1:49 pm CDT </p>
<p>Hallowed Grounds is my absolute, and maybe only favorite place on campus. I have restored my sanity from mind-rending study sessions with a few games of pool and soothing conversation with the regulars COUNTLESS times. Its a sanctuary from the things that hurt me most about this school. I love the music, the wood paneling, the sofas, the people, everything. This place means more to me than you could know. I implore the administration to find an alternative solution or compromise. I will have literally no reason to be on campus other than classes if you meddle with this place."</p>
<p>It might seem silly, but this place is really, really important to UChicago students. If anything, it should be expanded - not reduced.</p>