For years, students have complained about the University's lack of social space. But a list of existing campus space shows more than 100 venues available for student programming-so why aren't these spots being used?
Several members of a committee charged with reviewing the policies, procedures and costs surrounding student social space say the difficulties of social planning lie not with the physical locations, but with the policies attached to them.
Expected to issue a report by the end of the semester, the committee has examined several issues regarding social space, including whether students should be charged to use facilities, whether commons rooms should continue to be affiliated with individual living groups and whether consolidating certain event-planning departments would make it easier for students to secure space.
According to the incomplete list of available facilities put together by the Event Management Department, 48 of the venues charge flat fees, the lowest being $25 for a picnic shelter in the Duke Forest. On the other hand, the Devil's Den, a Central Campus sports bar, costs a student organization $490 to rent, in addition to $7 per person and the cost of three police officers.
Panhellenic Council President Kate Heath explained that because sororities can no longer hold events with alcohol in fraternity sections, the groups are left with few on-campus options for their get-togethers.
"It's the University's responsibility to provide us with on-campus venues other than the Hideaway or the Armadillo Grill," said Heath, a member of the committee. She added that although one sorority has experimented with the Devil's Den-a space conducive to greek events-the facility is too expensive for regular use.
"Without the University's help in subsidizing, it's not going to be a viable option," she said.
Although many committee members agreed that the University should try to subsidize rental fees, they are divided over how commons rooms should be used. The use of the relatively small facilities-most often for crowded fraternity and selective house parties-raises questions of both safety and equity.
Because living groups have free access to their own commons rooms, some students have argued that the arrangement is unfair to organizations without residential space.
Groups without commons rooms must often rent spaces in which to hold their events. The Brodie Recreation Center, for example, costs $150 along with a $100 housekeeping fee and additional costs for police officers.
"The axis has been focused around having to use Brodie gym rather than having your own commons room-who has it, who doesn't, who can use it, who can't," said committee member Rob Leonard, a senior.
With West Campus dormitory renovations around the corner, administrators plan to explore other commons space configurations. Meanwhile, they are considering how to rearrange administration of on-campus facilities.
Groups looking to book a specific facility for their events often have to visit several offices before finding a spot. Currently, several offices and departments-including Dining Services, Event Management and the Athletic Department-have control over programming space. "When you have all of that together, it obviously makes it easier for students-or anyone else-to program," said committee member Chuck Catotti, director of Event Management.
Overall, committee members said they hope to spark some sort of policy change to give student groups easier access to social space. "The Von Canons often are not used for parties because they may need to be used the next day for recruiting," White said. "What if that more formal [event] could be held in the Faculty Commons? We're looking at space where people say theoretically, you can use it-but why [don't they]?"
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.