By Hannah Gordon
Assistant News Editor
Robinson and Falconio Halls aren’t the only spots on campus changing for next semester. Along with the dorm facelifts, some clubs will be shuffling their office spaces and a computer lab will shut down.
Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) will be moved from Falconio 128 to Robinson Hall next to Safety and Security, according to Claire Watson, department chair of Sports Studies. Vito Czyz, director of Safety and Security, is the club advisor for MERT.
“The big picture in the relocations is that we are trying to accommodate for the update of the residence halls,” Watson said. “Adaptability is key, or in our field, flexibility is key.”
The Bona Venture
newsroom, which has long been housed on the first floor of Robinson Hall in room 11, will be moved to room 5 in the Reilly Center basement. The current newsroom will be transformed into dorm space for incoming freshmen students.
Michael Hoffman, executive director for information technology, said the computer lab, which currently occupies room 5, will not be replaced, and instead, the computers will be used to replace older models in other computer labs on campus.
“The RC 5 computer lab is by far the least-used computer lab on campus,” Hoffman said. “We have software which tracks computer lab usage, and this facility was underutilized relative to rest of our computer labs.”
This rationale, partnered with a plan to turn a Plassmann classroom into a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) friendly room is the reason that the room 5 lab will not be replaced, according to Hoffman.
“(BYOD) will likely include adding power to student desks, as well as increased wireless coverage,” Hoffman said. “This will make it easier for students to bring their own computers into the classroom and allow the room to function as a computer classroom as needed.”
Vito Czyz, director of Safety and Security said the changing of locations for The Bona Venture is sentimental for him.
“I will miss having the BV right next door in Robinson Hall,” Czyz, said. “Over the last 4 years, The BV has done a great job in reporting Safety and Security related stories, and I’m sure this will continue in RC5.”
Lee Coppola, former dean of the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication and member of The Bona Venture during his time as a student, said it’s not the location of The Bona Venture, but the people that make memories for its members.
“I hope someday (the newsroom) will be in (the John J. Murphy Professional Building),” Coppola said. “As far as sentiment, our BV offices were on the second floor of Butler, but it didn’t hold the memories first Rob has had for BVers. Change means little. It’s the people you meet and the joys and setbacks you shared that create the memories.”
