Pacific’s New Student Center in Works
By Ian Hill, The Record, Stockton, Calif.
Oct. 10–STOCKTON — Future University of the Pacific students will be able to belly up to the bar in the campus’ new student center, university officials said.
A pub is included in plans for the 62,000-square-foot, $30 million student center, which is scheduled to open in January 2008, said Patrick Cavanaugh, Pacific’s vice president of business and finance. The facility will be located between Baun Student Fitness Center and Hand Hall and will replace the 31-year-old McCaffrey Center.
Pacific’s Board of Regents approved plans for the new student center Friday, clearing the way for the university to seek bids for the project. Construction could start this spring. Funding is expected to come from donations and a bond sale.
The pub will be open to all students and serve alcohol to those who are of legal drinking age, Cavanaugh said. He noted that other campuses, including California State University, Sacramento, have bars. It has not been determined if nonstudents will be allowed in the Pacific pub.
“Rather than ban alcohol altogether, we’d like to create an environment where responsible consumption can take place,” Cavanaugh said.
Adam Zobler, 22, a senior from San Jose, said a university-run pub could give students a safe place to enjoy themselves.
“It will be a good alternative to off-campus parties,” Zobler said.
Giselle Birang, an 18-year-old freshman from Los Gatos, said she hopes the pub’s atmosphere is similar to that of the Summit, the McCaffrey Center’s cafe. The Summit will close after the new university center opens, Cavanaugh said.
“If it’s the same thing, I think it’d be cool,” she said.
The new student center also is slated to include conference and meeting rooms, a dining hall and the university bookstore, which would relocate from the McCaffrey Center, Cavanaugh said. The university’s main dining hall in the quad will close after the new center opens.
Cavanaugh noted that university officials began working toward the student center’s construction about four years ago in response to an increased demand for space by students. He added that universities across the country are building similar facilities and that Pacific needs to do the same so it can compete for students.
“There’s no question that, frankly, at this point, 31 years after its design and construction, the McCaffrey Center is a competitive disadvantage for us,” he said.
The future of that 84,931-square-foot center has yet to be decided. McCaffrey also is home to Tiger’s Grocery convenience store, student government offices and 25,479 square feet of apartment space.
Cavanaugh said he will head a committee of university officials, students and alumni to determine the future of the McCaffrey Center. Pacific’s School of International Studies might use the apartments to create a “living learning” area where international students can live together. He added that he expects Tiger’s Grocery to remain open.
That’s good news for students such as Max Vargas, 18, a freshman from Riverbank who commutes to Pacific. Vargas said the store allows him to get a quick lunch when his schedule is full.
Pacific student activities director Jason Velo noted that some students have been concerned about McCaffrey’s future.
“They want assurances that the administration is going to maintain their space,” Velo said.
Mindy Kreitzman, 20, a junior from Valencia and president of Pacific’s student government, said Tiger’s Grocery is staffed by students and raises about $40,000 for student government each year.
“Students will be willing to fight to keep McCaffrey, because there’s no place else like it on campus,” she said.
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