Space increases vary in new Brady

By Jedd Rosche

Published March 7, 2006

The committee responsible for assigning space in the expanded Brady Commons is finalizing its plans for the building with some tenants receiving more new space than others.

Architects met with the committee three times this past week to establish how much space student organizations will receive in the new student center, which will be nearly twice the size of the current Brady Commons.

The committee includes representatives from the Missouri Students Association, the Legion of Black Collegians and other campus groups.

According to figures from Student Auxiliary Services spokeswoman Michelle Froese, all student organizations and offices located in Brady Commons will get more space in the new building. The projections are based on the offices' current floor space and percent increases in floor space determined by the committee last week.

Among student organizations, the Office of Greek Life will gain the most space, growing from 661 square feet to 2,077 square feet.

The Missouri Students Association's office space would increase from 1,250 square feet to 2,673 square feet.

Most student organizations in Brady Commons reacted positively to the committee's recommendations.

MSA President John Andersen said that in addition to the increase in space, MSA's offices would have new resources.

"It's much improved," Andersen said. "Our senators will have work stations they can use."

Andersen said the workstations in the new student center could increase productivity.

"As it is now, even if (senators) wanted to hold office hours, it's not really a possibility," Andersen said. "I know a lot of other comparable student senates. Senators are required to have at least one office hour a week."

Andersen said that plans for required office hours would be a subject of discussion when the new student center begins development.

Also, the Associated Students of the University of Missouri would increase from 576 square feet to 875 square feet.

ASUM adviser Beth Tankersley-Bankhead said the lobbying group's current offices are undersized and overused, with the space divided between as many 15 students at one time.

"The new office provides more open space for student workers and provides a closed office for student use when talking to legislators," Tankersley-Bankhead said.

Student support services also would see an increase in office space in the new student center.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center is one of the offices receiving the largest increase in space, growing from 246 square feet to 1,078 square feet.

The Rape Education Center will increase from less than 300 square feet to 787 square feet. The Women's Center would increase from 1,464 square feet to 2,814 square feet.

Kim Dude, assistant director of the Wellness Resource Center, said she was content with the 40 percent increase in space the center would get in the new building. Its increase is the smallest among the building's tenants.

Not all organizations are pleased with the space they will receive in the new building.

Pablo Mendoza, assistant director of the Multicultural Center, said that though he is happy to have any increase at all, the space provided to the center is significantly smaller than many major state universities.

"Compared to our peer institutions in the Big 12 or the Big 10, it's not exactly adequate," Mendoza said. "We'll still be one of the smallest centers in the Big 12 and Big 10 conferences, but it will be a vast improvement over what we have now."

Mendoza said the University of Oklahoma has a three-story building dedicated to multicultural affairs.

Froese said the Multicultural Cultural center would increase from 918 square feet to 1,520 square feet.