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#Post#: 10366--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: April 4, 2014, 1:27 pm
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SBUPatriots and BFF- thanks for your thoughts. i think all
those on this particular forum know the answers- and they are
right here.
lets run some rough #s, for Ss and Gs, why not. these are
arbitrary so it doesnt really matter if they are off or rounded,
but feel free to amend and we can get this conversation rolling.
total students- 25k. total undergrad? 18k. total living on
campus? 8-10k. disregard for now those living off campus but
not at home. assume 25% in each class. conservative estimate
is 2k in each undergraduate class.
what would it take to fill up a pub? a coffee shop? a
pedestrian square buzzing? total, a few hundred kids MAX.
maybe 500 total. that will create an atmosphere- thats what we
need- an atmosphere.
but it NEEDS to be geographically correct. in one place, and
close by. again, get the kids into the Mendelsohn and G Quad
and build it nearby. DONT give them a reason not to show up.
now, with those 8-10k, think we can, at any given time, activate
500 kids? perhaps throw in some commuters? that can easily
fill up a square. and start to create that collegetown feel.
for sports, your target should be ALL students with the
understanding that the underclassmen are more into this. its
just the way it goes in college; students become disaffected
with anything that isnt new; what with all the distractions in
today's world.
for the Arena, its seats 4k. we should have no problem getting
half that from the outside. can we get 2k students? unlikely,
conservatively speaking. but can we get 1k? i think so. that
is a massive presence if seated all together, at a place like
SB. if there are 8-10k living on campus, can we get 1 in 8 to
show up, and how?
for LaValle, slightly bigger problem, AND you have late fall
weather in the northeast.
corrections welcome.
#Post#: 10374--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ecasadoSBU Date: April 4, 2014, 3:49 pm
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Its amazing... All the points that Chair stressed are basically
things that I found in my visits to UConn. As everyone knows by
now... my gf attends Connecticut.
Its amazing how good of a job UConn does to build school spirit.
I remember her freshmen year they grouped all of the freshmen in
the crappiest dorms on campus (North Quad)... so crappy that I
told her "I would never live in such conditions"... But you know
what? The kids didn't complain.... They *****ing loved it. Sh*t
would get wild in North Quad and those kids surely build a great
relationship early on. Additionally, it kept their expectations
of college to a reasonable level. They started out in the worst
dorms all together, so no complaints of bathrooms (because no
one has seen any better), crappy ceilings, and small dorms.
One thing that I experienced at SBU, is that many students get
so much (especially for the cheap price) yet they always remain
dissatisfied with their college experience and that's because
there is little spirit across the campus. If there is campus
spirit you start to forget about the $15k tuition, the student
loans, the small dorms, and the crappy classes you have to deal
with, etc, etc.
So yes, the responsibility lies on the University to build an
environment that promotes unity and spirit across the student
body. The few of us that came out of Stony Brook with tons of
school pride are those that were either marching band, involved
in clubs, attended athletic events, and build strong
friendships. The University has to take charge. I'm afraid that
getting USG involve its only going to make things worst.
Students are not gonna like the fact that all freshmen are
grouped together in one quad and they'll probably vote against
it. Some decisions to make improvements need to be made
unilaterally.
Also, when it comes to dining halls. God sakes... Stony Brook
can do better. We are a research university with 10,000 students
that live in campus. Screw the itemized system they have in
place that pretty much its meant to serve the commuter. Make it
all-you-can eat buffet so that students don't starve at the end
of the semester. Change the dining hall system to avoid the long
lines to get your food and then another long line to pay for
your food. These things impact the community, and trust me, it
makes a difference. By the time most kids graduate, they hate
Stony Brook and food has to do a lot with it.
I can say that taking those trips to UConn those weekends made
me more proud of Stony Brook because Stony Brook a ton of
potential to improve, its a great school with even a better
reputation than a school like UConn. But we just have to a
better job at selling it. I myself set out to build some school
spirit, and to mobilize my friends to attend the games and get
involved. We had a blast, we got trashed, but those memories
will never fade. But the average stony brook student never
experiences that.
One additional thought is: Stony Brooks needs to become more
diverse in its selection of students. I understand the school's
mission is to serve Long Islanders... But its a public state
university. It should be targeting kids from Western New York,
The Capital District, Central New York and the Lower Hudson
Valley... focusing on NYC kids and Long Islanders who live
30mins-2hrs away from home kills the vibe on campus.
My best buddies in college came from the
middle-of-nowhere-NY.... it doesn't matter whether they are
asian americans or whatever... those people party too but they
need to come from other areas of NY, not just downstate. Also, I
don't mind having a sizable international community. Those
international kids actually get quite involved. My rommie was
from Bangladesh, and I had a ton of fun with that guy. We drank,
we smoked, we studied, we partied, it was awesome
Lastly: Please please. Demolish the current Student Union. A
school like Stony Brook should have a respectable center for
student life. The current union is disgusting, and it really
summarizes student life at Stony Brook. We can do better. I
mean, look at our peers (Penn State, UMass, Maryland, Ohio
State, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UConn) with the impressive Student
Unions while we have a crappy old building. That building is
beyond repair and the administration is looking to make a
renovation instead of knocking it down.
Make a new Union 3 or 4x the current size where you can house an
impressively large food court (for a school with 24k students),
make it the home of USG, add a sports TV lounge, Game room,
ballroom, a legit Friday night movie screen, etc, etc. The
current union is a perfect location (near the arena and stadium)
so it can be built there again
Not everything is depressing though. We have achieved a lot
since I first became a freshman back in 2007. I'm extremely
proud of Stony Brook's accomplishments and I wouldn't change my
experience at SBU for nothing. But there is no doubt that there
is a lot work left to do. Stony Brook has the potential to be a
Penn State or an Ohio State. Our academics are at par already,
we just have to work on everything else that makes college
memorable. As alumni, and community members its our job to be
supportive also through athletic events, donations, and booster
blogs, creating enthusiasm, and Rewriting wikipedia (has anybody
looked at the makeover I've done to the Stony Brook related
articles in wikipedia. I've put a lot of effort to write the
articles in a neutral POV but with as much info as possible
about the university)
I love SBU, and I'm sure we all do. So lets keep writing and
maybe the administration takes a look at the board from time to
time...
#Post#: 10375--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: April 4, 2014, 4:33 pm
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Crazy Eddie- youve certainly earned the right to opine on this
subject, if any of us have. You did start this forum!
Yes, the Union needs to go the way of the bridge- wrecking ball.
But i would hope they dont put up another super modern glass
building; again, i dont think thats what kids want to see.
Budgets are tight; but they arent necessarily less expensive
than the old brick and mortar. We mustnt forget kids look at
imagery when they read brochures for college... we are being
compared to our peers. They are the standard. Make it happen.
Choose where you'd like to go to class:
HTML http://citynoise.org/upload/31126.jpg
HTML http://media.salon.com/2013/01/unc.jpg
You really cant put a price tag on this.
Apartments are great (i lived in Kelly). But they are less
social and kids are holed up in their rooms and dont interact
like they do in corridors. Dont all other colleges put freshmen
in corridors? Yes! There's a reason why and we need to follow.
Most other colleges the kids live in the dorm one year and out.
This is not a time to lead; its a time to follow.
Regarding the food- which i honestly didnt think was all that
bad during my days- another reason to bring in the private
vendors. There is room to build. Lets do it.
HTML http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/dance/contact/dancemap2.jpg
Knocking down the Union solves two problems- one is knocking
down the Union- the other is it frees up space for this campus
square i keep talking about. Plenty of space, right near the
quads (that i think should become the freshmen quads) and just
away from the center of campus. Think of the atmosphere, during
a football game and kids are around the union, hearing the crowd
from just nearby, game telecast on TVs, etc.
I keep talking about geography, and yes, its going to be tough
for the kids living in the back of Tabler to get all the way
over there. Maybe improve the bus system, i dunno. I never got
on it.
I also agree on taking a more diverse selection of students.
The less kids we have from outside of the tristate area, the
more out of place kids from upstate (or anywhere else) will
feel. State tuition there; take advantage. Buffalo does.
Albany does. Bingo does. Again, time to follow, not lead.
Regarding diversity, i actually remember the U being extremely
diverse. Problem though, walking through the Union especially
during Campus Lifetime, or the Bench, Academic Mall, etc,
everyone was cliqued off with people of their own color. Thats
fine and all, just saying i thought diversity wasnt the problem,
its refusal to integrate thats the problem!
And yes, the U has come a LONG way in the last 10 years. They
really really really need a person, who is an alum, and young,
and understands the issue, to run with the campus life
experience improvement. They keep going wrong here. I dont
think budgeting or space is the issue. Its the bad decisions
the admin makes, the university-sponsored anything, the wrong
people in these roles, and student inactivity.
#Post#: 10378--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Seawolf97 Date: April 4, 2014, 8:22 pm
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This forum is really has grown I went to Buffalo State years
ago. Their Student Union of today is gorgeous. They really did
a nice job and they are a state college not a global research
university. Things can change at SBU we just need voices. If
you go on the Buff St virtual tour check out the union which
is still the center of campus life.
#Post#: 10379--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ecasadoSBU Date: April 5, 2014, 1:03 am
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Give me $500 million bucks and I'll change the Brook forever
with an "Iron fist". LOL. We need another one like president
Kenny who actually cared about how things looked and building
spirit in addition to academics. We also need lots of money,
yes, sorry chair, I do think this is also a funding problem. It
is impossible to build a comprehensive plan for the future of
the university with lack of funds. We need the state to make one
shot investment for the Brook (like $250-750 mil project) to
change the face of the University.
I did a terrible paint job here but bear with me here. Look at
the attachment.
I came up with a quick project based on a few things.
A) a brand new state of the art Stony Brook Union in a
centralized location of campus with quick access from the South
Dorm Communities (Kelly, West, Roosevelt, Tabler) and from the
North Campus (H-Quad, Mendi, and the future residential quad
next to Wang Center)
B) A Student Union that faces a "Central Alley" of the State
University. Most Universities in the nation have a main alley, a
main mall with a long patch of grass. Its traditional, its
beautiful, and it allows the student to easily walk from the
west end to the east end of the academic campus. The Central
Alley should be overhauled so that it is a consistent, long,
straight patch of grass from the Administration Building (all
the way in the East end) to the potential future Union (in the
extreme west).
C) The Student Union will be only a short walk from our brand
new renovated arena and Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. You know
what that means? after every big win, all hell will break lose
at the Student Union. Stony Brook nation will descend all over
the Union to fulfill their hunger or their desire for more fun.
The perfect place for all the wolves to meet and have a good
time
D) The Earth and Space Science Building must go. Its disgusting,
its old, its breaking apart, and it blocks the academic mall
from the west side of campus. The building should be demolished
so that that end of campus can be opened up for the future
Union. Replace the ESS with a big patch of grass right in front
of the potential union.
E) New academic Buildings can be constructed in the patch of
forest directly next to the ESS building. But it must absolutely
respect and fit in with the Central Alley.
F) Directly in front of the Stony Brook Arena, and sandwiched in
between the Physics building and the SBU Arena in that large
patch of grass we should build a brand new Stony Brook
University Marketplace. Here, a three floor state of the art
complex that will house the Stony Brook Seawolves Athletics
Store, a large student bookstore, and a students convenience
store. After every game, make sure that store is open so that
kids can throw their money away on jerseys.
G) Where the current Student Union lies. Demolish that piece of
crap and build something else there. We can build an academic
building, a dining hall... or actually, my favorite - even a
better idea: a nice and fancy building were we can house the
Stony Brook Foundation and the Stony Brook University Alumni
Association. Here is where all the alumni are gonna THROW their
money away. This Alumni association should be hunting down every
alumnus of the University. Milking everyone's pockets for a
better future for the University.
H) Overhaul of John S. Toll Drive to make it more student
friendly. Build a line of trees along the road so that students
don't have to see the service facilities in the west side of the
road every time they walk up and down the road. John S. Toll
Drive should become the center of life for Stony Brook students.
Everything cool should be down that road (Stony Brook Union,
Stony Brook Arena, Stony Brook Rec Center, Stony Brook
Marketplace, Staller Center Films, Alumni Association, Wang
Center, maybe some sorority/frat houses can be built at the end
of this road near the Mendy quad)
I) Near the main entrance of THE State University of New York at
Stony Brook we should build a nice "Stony Brook Visitor Center".
This should be the first encounter for every visitor of the
university. All future students, parents, community members
should first walk into the Stony Brook University visitor
center. This is important... as of now, current first time
visitors walk into the Administration building (really? what
kinda of first impression is that?)
BOYSSSSSS. THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD A FLAGSHIP STATE UNIVERSITY FOR
THE MASSES! Who's gonna hand me the money? :)
[attachment deleted by admin]
#Post#: 10381--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ecasadoSBU Date: April 5, 2014, 1:31 am
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Maybe we can put these ideas on paper and start lobbying. We can
do it right. We are nice group of passionate fans of Stony
Brook. We can send out emails. No? Wouldn't it be great...
#Post#: 10382--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: laxnation Date: April 5, 2014, 2:24 am
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We can't even repair the steps leading up to gym and its been
like this way for 1 or even two years. Nothing says welcome
like yellow police tape. ;D
#Post#: 10386--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: April 5, 2014, 4:08 pm
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good to see there is someone as crazy as i am...
i like a lot of these ideas and i encourage more. crazy eddie
yes money is an issue but we have an annual budget; its time to
manage it better, which is to say we have matters of more
urgency than others. its mismanaged just like our federal,
state, and local govt.
today i saw mud and dirt fields everywhere. its unsightly and
needs to be fixed. the SB Arena is unbelievable though. and
there are big plans for the atrium just outside the main
entrance.
i think before they spend on anything- they need to marshal
resources and improve the social atmosphere. that means, to me,
things like the visitor center are great, but room and $ should
be used to create a college town. visitor center is a great
idea though.
youre right that the union should be more centered and the area
where ESS is is a great idea. and yes it does block the
academic mall! they can even move that parking lot easily, as,
its a parking lot. grass or new union sounds great to me. yes
it needs to be more centered to the south dorms, and thats the
perfect spot near the arena. and when they condemn the union,
that will open up more prime space. pubs and restaurants?
houses? >:(
agreed on making the academic mall grass. sure it will raise
maintenance costs but this is one of those things that has to be
done. example:
HTML http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/img/college-photo_2352..jpg
we can afford to knock down a building here and there. we have
more than enough buildings to house students temporarily while
one gets flattened.
for F, they are planning on putting an SB athletics store in the
atrium where the old concessions are in the arena. it should be
connected to the arena.
also i agree that we need an alumni association, but not yet,
not at the cost of something can improve the social interaction
of current students at the brook. i love your idea of replacing
the union with houses, pubs, cafes, restaurants, etc. Your idea
to overhaul toll drive is great too. it should be a
destination; not a thoroughfare.
we have to dream it before it becomes a plan.
HTML http://www.woolpert.com/wp-content/uploads/Quad-Birds-Eye-e1361893413237.jpg
#Post#: 10387--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: April 5, 2014, 4:16 pm
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those last two posts were UVa, UNC, and UNC Greensboro. Here is
Syracuse:
HTML http://archives.syr.edu/images/buildings/quad.jpg
Cornell:
HTML http://fe.fs.cornell.edu/img/mainPage/ArtsQuad.jpg
Illinois:
HTML http://www.martycarlson.net/briefcase/89818_11162012113011AM35219.jpg
Ohio State:
HTML http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/OSU_aerial_quad-e1285084594352.jpg
Washington:
HTML http://faculty.washington.edu/paymana/images/photos/uw/blossoms4.gif
#Post#: 10393--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Seawolf97 Date: April 5, 2014, 10:38 pm
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Really something to work toward !
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