NEWS

All students welcome in new community room

Hadasa Cret, Kaylee Aguirre and Grace Lentz-Cockey enjoying the community room together during lunchtime. Luis Paez-Cano | Washtenaw Voice

Sasha Hatinger

Staff Writer

The upgraded community room, located on the first floor in the Student Center building, now offers students an environment to eat, study, socialize, or relax–away from what some now describe as the noisier, common area of the Student Center.

Allison Trovini, a WTMC Liberal Arts Transfer student describes the Student Center as being, “louder for longer,” they said.

Last April, there was a restriction made to the Quiet Room located on the first floor of the Student Center, which limited all high school students from the Quiet Room.

Chief of Public Safety and Emergency Management, John Leacher, offers his enlightenment on the situation.

“It’s not necessarily a ban for the students,” Leacher said. “We’re just closing that down to all high school students between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.”

Leacher adds, “The new dedicated space in the community room–with that space being available now, we have places to direct people that don’t want to be out in the crazy end of what is lunch time down there [Student Center common area].”

Regarding why these changes have been made, Trovini said, “It’s nice to have a space dedicated specifically to WTMC,” while also highlighting that they also believe it is for all students.

Dean of Students and Superintendent, Dr. Karl Covert shared what prompted the new community room opening, stating that the college and WTMC are working together to create more seating space for all college students.

“It’s actually quieter in there than the normal Student Center,” he said.

The community room is open to all students for studying, eating lunch and quiet time. Lily Cole | Washtenaw Voice

Covert said that the goals of the new community room are “To elevate space concerns within the Student Center” and “create more and different types of spaces for students to eat lunch and study.”

Covert believes in the effectiveness of the new community room in terms of the rooms intended goals.

“Every day it’s becoming more effective. As the word gets out that this is a nice space, [with] new furniture,” Covert said.

The community room has been revamped with carpeting, and new banquette seating and tables for students to feel at ease.

Both Covert and Leacher agree, that there hasn’t been any major noise or behavioral complaints of WTMC or any dually enrolled high school students since the limitations of the quiet room last April.

Should students have concerns about noise or behavioral complaints, they can call Public Safety dispatch: 734-973-3411 or dial 3411 from any campus phone.