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Written by Kent Long

Thursday, 05 November 2009 09:50 PM

Information systems sophomore David Hsu signs a student congress petition at International Coffee Hour on Thursday evening in the UC Palo Duro Lounge. The petition protests the conversion of UC Palo Duro Lounge into a computer lab. (The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard)

The impending decision to turn Ransom Hall into a freshman resource/success center must include the relocation of the computer lab located on the first floor. Our administration has a few ideas, and one that I have heard several times is the Palo Duro Lounge, on the first floor of the University Center. Student Congress voted unanimously that we feel this is not the best location for computers to be relocated, and you, as students have your turn to voice your opposition. The SC Executive Board decided the best way we can do this is by petitioning to have the Palo Duro Lounge removed from the list of potential places to relocate the Ransom Hall computer lab.

Some may call this effort premature, but I encourage you to voice your concerns now, before a decision is made for you. Your tuition pays for the University Center and thus your voice should be considered during the decision making process. That is exactly what this petition can do. It will hopefully show our administration that the Palo Duro Lounge is an area that belongs to you, our students, first.

If Palo Duro is lost, not only would you lose the ability to study and relax between classes, but many other university departments would lose that space for programming. The International Office would lose the location for Global Grounds, a reoccurring event where students have the opportunity to interact with other Mavericks from around the world. Career Services would lose its location that it uses for resume critiques as they attempt to prepare us to gain employment. The President’s Office would lose the location to host early voting on campus, a means of letting our voices be heard in both municipal and national elections. There are other locations that could be better utilized to house a 24/7 computer lab, without the expense of student life and space.

With a simple signature you can add your two cents to the changes happening at UT Arlington. Faculty and staff, I hope that you see this space that you use to interface with students is just as important to the missions of your offices and departments as it is to students as a place to relax. Students, I encourage you to speak up and be heard as the decisions made that affect you, our university’s number one source of income. You can sign our petition in the Student Congress office in the basement of the UC, in Ransom Hall, at the information desk in the UC, or with one of your Student Congress Senators.

“Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act.” - Albert Einstein
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 January 2010 01:41 PM )

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