While yes it is nice that those of us living in Lovernich have apartment-style housing we have all learned that it is still lacking something: a common area for all Lovernich residents. But this is an easy problem to fix as Lovernich used to have such an area. It was known as “The Commons but it is now occupied by Special Programs. Special Programs used to move into this space during the summers and move back out once students were back on campus, but sometime after the opening of the HAWC in 1995, it was decided that students no longer needed this space and Special Programs stayed. We should get this area back.
Some would argue that if Lovernich residents wanted somewhere to hang out other than their apartments, then they should go to the HAWC. Let’s be honest, most of us DRIVE to the Caf. Do you really think we are going to walk to the HAWC to hang out? The basis of hanging out is being lazy, walking a few feet, having some interesting conversation with a few friends, or perhaps playing a game of foosball. It’s about convenience.
The fact that Lovernich apartments do not come equipped with flat-screen TVs is a reason why there should be an area nearby that provides this luxury. Sure, most of us can afford a TV on our own, but Towers and freshmen dorm residents are provided with common areas where Thursday night episodes of Jersey Shore” are screened in support group form (since no one wants to admit to watching it in the silent secrecy of a bedroom). It’s not just about getting a TV — it’s about the camaraderie that forms around one. Further these common areas offer larger areas for groups to gather accommodating more residents and making for more inclusive events.
Lovernich is already a great living complex for college students. It is a community but it simply lacks an area where the community could grow more. Special Programs took over a space that belonged to the students and it should be given back. We’re not asking for much — just take the foosball tables that have been stored in the laundry rooms and put them back in the old “Commons.” Give us a couch or two take the flat screen TV from J. Pengilly since it’s being renovated and throw in a few vending machines for good measure. If you really want to please us put in one of those machines where we can add money to our laundry cards too. It’s been said before and we’ll say it again: “If you build it they will come.” Students that is. No ghosts of baseball players will come to Lovernich.