Seniors Look To Give Back

Located in the Homer Babbidge Library, a conglomeration of students and faculty gather at Bookworms to discuss affairs, work on school projects or just enjoy lunch. However, with the current set-up, places to sit and room to stand are often troubles that derive from the disorganized arrangement, according to some.

"The round tables make it hard for groups to get together," said Jill Bedard, a 2nd-semester undecided major. "A lot of times, one person will sit at one round table which leads to all the tables filling up quickly leaving an awkward seating arrangement."

Kim Plavcan, interior designer for CAMA Inc., the development team on the Bookworms project, said the new layout is designed for a better seating arrangement.

"For expanding Bookworms, we were told the requirements included more counter space and more tables that could be bunched together for larger groups," she said. "So that's what you should expect when the renovations are complete."

After meeting with the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Academic Affairs committee, Vice Provost of University Libraries Brinley Franklin and students agreed an expansion of Bookworms held the highest priority in library renovations. A member of the USG Academic Affairs committee also served on the Senior Class Gift committee and later introduced the idea of gathering donations from the senior class to be put toward the renovations, hence the expansion becoming the senior class gift, according to Franklin.

A construction date for the project has yet to be arranged, but is expected to take place sometime over the summer. The Senior Class Gift committee just reached its goal of $20,000 donated from the senior class. The total estimated cost of the expansion comes to $100,000, according to Franklin. The idea for the Bookworms expansion derived from the increased profit seen from the café since the Student Union renovation.

The glass wall in Bookworms facing Gampel Pavilion will be expanded by 625 square feet by moving the wall 25 feet from its current location. On that wall, a counter will be added so those wandering through alone will have a place to sit without taking up a table. In addition, new, square tables will be added in the dining area to better accommodate large groups.

Sarah Baldwin, the Senior Class Gift chairperson and an 8th-semester economics major, said she was excited for the expansion mainly because it's a unique way the graduating class can give back to the university.

"In the past, we've funded scholarships," Baldwin said. "This year I'm excited we're putting our money towards something the entire campus can see and benefit from."

Another new edition to the Bookworms café is the newly renovated Jonathan the husky dog, designed by Peter Good, who also designed the university's logo. Good, along with his son, is designing the new dog in honor of the 125th anniversary, according to Franklin.

"They've taken the front half of the husky - he's got it coming through a wall or a hoop or something - and the back is sort of the skeleton, sort of the framework of the dog," Franklin said. "It represents coming into college as unfinished works, and come out as total dog, total husky."

Seniors who donated will have their name on a plaque displayed in the library next semester. Construction for Bookworms will start this summer and be completed by the time students come back to school.