Students propose changes to Diana Center spaces

Barnard is looking for ideas about how to squeeze the most out of its limited space—especially when it comes to the Diana Center.

At a town hall meeting on Wednesday, students and Student Government Association members told Barnard officials that the student center needs more seating and clearer differences between lounge spaces and study spaces for it to become a more comfortable place for students.

Jessica Nuñez, associate dean for student life, and Greg Brown, Barnard’s chief operating officer, spoke with students about problems they encounter in the Diana and tried to brainstorm solutions.

“The Diana Center was designed, as any urban building is, to be a lot of different things. But I know students are thinking about how they hang out in the space and how they use the space,” Brown said. “I’m not going to redesign the building, but I need to know what you need.”

Students focused on the Diana’s second-floor dining area and its lack of seating during peak hours.

“There’s definitely not enough seating anywhere in the Diana, especially during that twelve-to-two lunchtime period. It gets to the point where you’re taking the elevator and getting off at every floor, trying to find a seat,” Emily Shartrand, BC ’12 and a former Spectator design deputy, said.

Students who attended the meeting were also concerned about the lack of distinction between the center’s use as both a quiet study space and a lounge area.

“There was a TV put in Liz’s Place. We had been hearing for years that students wanted a TV lounge. However, one of the things we struggle with is that students turn off the TV so that it can be a quiet place to study,” Nuñez said. “It’s supposed to be a lively loud place to hang out, socialize and relax.”

This semester, Barnard’s dining services department revamped the food selection in the second-floor dining center and transitioned from Java City to Starbucks coffee at Liz’s Place. At the meeting, Director of Operations for Dining Services Goldi Juer announced another change to come next week—adding breakfast hours.

“Oatmeal, fresh fruit, and hot sandwiches will be served from 10:30 to 11:30 in the mornings,” Juer said.

Gila Schwarzschild, BC ’13 and SGA vice president of student activities, and Maya Zinkow, BC ’14 and representative for community programming, both suggested that Liz’s Place be open on the weekends as a way to foster a sense of community.

“I was studying there one weekend as a tour guide came through and described it as the mecca of student life, but it was completely empty,” Zinkow said.

The discussion was limited by low attendance­­—only four students showed up to participate in the discussion, which was dominated by SGA members. Rachel Ferrari, BC ’13 and vice president of student government, emphasized that other students could contact SGA directly to get involved.

Despite the poor showing from the student body, Brown said, “What we were looking for was feedback, and I think we got it.”

jessica.stallone
@columbiaspectator.com