Collegiate Times

Henderson center

Numerous programs are adjusting to new homes on campus as classes resume.

The most visible of these new homes are the offices in the newly-renovated Henderson Hall.  The $11.6 million renovation project includes the new Black Box Theatre, which is scheduled for a ribbon cutting ceremony for Oct. 30.

Head of the Department of Theatre and Cinema Patty Raun said the move from the Performing Arts Building, which lacked both air conditioning and an elevator, to Henderson Hall is going smoothly.

"We're not settled, but we're moved in, and it's just thrilling," Raun said. "It's a wonderful facility. We're excited to use our new teaching space."  

Also moving into Henderson Hall are parts of the School of Visual Arts and the Department of Music.

The Performing Arts Building has gone through numerous changes since its construction in 1899 for use by the YMCA. After the YMCA left the building in 1937, the building was renamed as the Military Building that same year.  The building then became known as the Student Personnel Building in 1966 before it took on its current name in 1972.

Despite the department's change of address, the theatre and performing arts department will still use the Performing Arts Building for certain rehearsals and performances.

"We have expanded our offerings," Raun said. "We're pretty fully using both facilities."

Raun added that she has received positive feedback on Henderson Hall from faculty in her department.

"People are so excited," Raun said. "One of our faculty said to me, 'It's like we have a real department finally.'"

In addition to the theatre and cinema department's move into Henderson Hall, other programs are making their move to new locations, primarily New Hall West.

The new residence hall now houses several branches of student programs and administrative offices previously spread around campus.

"I think it's a great opportunity for our departments to work together," said Vera Kidd, the chief of staff in the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs' office. "We've been geographically dispersed for our whole existence."

One such program is the Office of Student Conduct, formerly known as the Office of Judicial Affairs. The program had been situated in Dietrick Hall, next to DXpress.

"Our staff has grown over the past couple of years, but we haven't been able to grow with that," said Rohsaan Settle, associate director of Student Conduct.

The program's old office space will change into a lounge for DXpress in October.

In addition to more office space, the program will now have a new conference room. Previously, staff had to exit the building and proceed through a laundry room to get to its conference space.

"It felt a little weird," Settle said.

The extra office space will allow for the office's staff to have better access to students.

"This will give us private space to talk to students about confidential issues," Settle said.

Settle hoped the new space would foster better communication.

"Instead of picking up a phone or e-mailing other offices, we can walk down the hall," Settle said.