Yes, it's almost here! The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Gavner College Student Activity Center (the SAC) will be held next Tuesday at 11 a.m.
If you are on campus next Tuesday, pick up tickets this week so that you can participate in one of the greatest
events in Gavner College history – the grand opening of the new Student Activity Center. Free food, free refreshments, and great speakers – how can you possibly pass up this invitation?
While Gavner College has been a leading higher education institution for more than 70 years, its distance from surrounding commercial development has been an issue for some, primarily for the vast number of dorm students on campus. Paired with cold weather that we (sometimes!) find up here in the northern part of the state, it can at times make leaving the campus a daunting task. Several years ago, Gavner President Elizabeth Allens decided to make Gavner a city of its own. Her vision was to seek funding for a suite of buildings that would make the Gavner SAC the place to be irrespective of the time of day or night and the day of the week. At the heart of the SAC is the new campus mini-mall, which houses 20 retail stores. Included in the retail mix are three restaurants, a delicatessen, clothing and shoe stores, a movie theater (which also doubles as a theatre for the performing arts), a pharmacy, a gift shop, a Stormm's coffee shop, a bagel shop, and several other retail stores.
The SAC was designed to be a meeting place. There are several large and small group conference rooms,
(click the image at left to see a larger image) lecture halls, a ballroom (which also serves as a conference center), and a spacious food court that serves a wide variety of foods. You can work off those calories at the SAC's Olympic-size pool, mammoth health and fitness club, and indoor track. You can also spend some quiet time at the spacious Art Gallery, which showcases student and faculty work from the Visual Communications department as well as that of local artists. Located on the lower level is the campus book store and five large computer labs.
One long-standing problem for guests traveling to Gavner College has been finding a place to stay, especially on the weekends. That problem will be solved by the grand opening of a Merlin Roadways Lodge, located just south of the campus on Route 17. It will have 300 rooms – all available at very reasonable prices. The newly constructed Merlin Roadways Lodge will open on the same day as the SAC.
The studios of WGAV, the campus radio station, will be relocated to the top floor of the SAC. Media Studies students will now have a powerful and modern studio with which to hone their craft. The upper level will also house offices for administrative staff. Located on the lower level of the SAC will be more than two dozen offices to serve as meeting places for various campus organizations and clubs. The lower level will also be the new location for the greatly expanded campus book store and card shop. The lower level will have quite a few attractions.
You should visit the
Cybercafé in the Student Activity Center on your first day. Stop by and get a cup of latte or tea. The
Cybercafé has wireless access for your laptop computer. You can surf the Web while you sip your favorite beverage. Light snacks, including pastries, muffins, and rolls are also available.
The Grand Opening celebration will begin in the Grady Ballroom on the first floor. Participate in a free buffet with hot foods, sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts. Light refreshments will also be served. There is no admission fee, but you must obtain a ticket. You will need your campus ID card to obtain a ticket. Tickets are available at the Campus Activities Room in Robinson Hall. The celebration starts at noon. There will be a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony later that afternoon in the lobby. Sign up to take a tour of the SAC. Guided tours will start every 15 minutes. The tour lasts about a half hour. Please do not bring any food or drink while you are on the guided tour. We will also have several guest speakers who have been invited to campus for the event. Governor Mitchell will be speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. We hope to see you there.
