Collegiate Times

A canned food drive running through Dec. 6 encourages the university community to return to Norris Hall.

In an effort to help students return to Norris Hall, the Society of Engineering Science has come up with the idea for a canned food drive from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6.

"Most of the university community hasn't been in Norris or have had a reason to; we are challenging people to come take a look at Norris," said Frederick Cook, president of the society of engineering science and engineering science and mechanics major.

Cook said the purpose of the canned food drive is to bring people to Norris Hall while also helping those less fortunate. The drop-offs for the cans will be located just inside the doors of Norris.

"Cans for Norris Hall is a way to get students back," said Jason Weiskopf, open house chairman of the society of engineering science and junior engineering science and mechanics major.

The Society of Engineering Science is a national engineering society that promotes community and scholarship for all students in the department.

The Engineering Science and Mechanics department is currently utilizing most of the space in Norris as faculty offices, departmental offices, laboratories, computer labs and student lounges.Scott Case, associate professor and associate department head in the engineering science and mechanics department, said he believes that the canned food drive will be successful in bringing students back to Norris."It's incredibly important to have students back. There is the energy of being around students, and a lot of energy is lacking," Case said. On Dec. 7, the Norris Hall Task Force will decide between two final proposals for the future use of Norris Hall. The first proposal is the Institute for Transformative Learning with two centers within it, one named the Center for Violence Prevention and Peace Studies and the other named the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships. The second proposal will be called Re-Creating a Student-Centered Community, which was submitted by the department of engineering science and mechanics, part of the College of Engineering.

The Society of Engineering Science hopes that students will be inspired to contribute to the charitable cause so there will once again be students in the building. "I welcome any activities that will get more student traffic in the building," Case said. The food donated to Cans for Norris Hall will go to one or several food banks located in the New River Valley area.