Students expecting to see a return on their student center fee shouldn’t hold their collective breath. According to the Moorpark College Associated Students’ Constitution, the Student Center fee was implemented in March of 2000.
The Moorpark College student body overwhelmingly approved this mandatory student center fee to build, renovate, and operate a Moorpark College student union. It has been seven years and, according to MC AS President Sara Yakhi, the building isn’t much of a Student Union.
“We don’t have a hangout for all the students,” said Yakhi. “The building is old and the signs all need to be done.”
MC Vice President of Business Services Ray Di Guilio said more than $1 million has been set aside so far. A major project would likely be in excess of $3 million, and the school would seek additional resources from a variety of sources.
“The intention is to use those funds to improve facilities that directly benefit the students, i.e. Student Union,” said Di Guilio. “But limited funding has nixed that project for the foreseeable future, at least the next two to four years.” The building has basically not changed much over the 40-year period, Di Guilio said; however the dining room area was upgraded about two years ago.
The improvements included new flooring, painting and new furniture. The foyer is also scheduled for improvement, as well as the restrooms. For someone new to the campus, however, the Campus Center may be an easy place to get lost.
According to Yakhi, some of the signs telling students what is in the building are inaccurate, and that she often gets students looking for Financial Aid and other departments in the Associated Students office because of incorrect signage.
Yakhi would like to see improved signage and a better use of the space in the AS office as a short-term fix. The fee, $1 per unit up to $10, goes into an account that is controlled by the Associated Students. Moorpark College students have some ideas of what could be done.
“It could use more video games,” said Josh Thomas, 18, Art major. “A DDR machine would be good.”
More students had other ideas, but most suggestions didn’t include a major overhaul of the entire building.
“Curtains would be good,” said Stacy Felshaw, 18, undecided, speaking about the windows in the cafeteria. “It gets really bright in here at the end of the day.”
“Maybe if we had a couple of bigger tables,” said Robyn Burdick, 18, Liberal Arts major. “Everyone is always pushing tables together and stealing chairs.”
Some students thought the building was just fine how it was, but it could use a small change or two.
“It seems ok,” said Nick Sheppard, 18, Engineering major. “Maybe another bathroom would be good.”
The Committee of Accreditation and Planning for facilities has placed this building project on its agenda, said Di Guilio.
“We will spend most of this year discussing this building and three or four other building projects in order to develop a priority list,” said Di Guilio. The AS has direct control of the money, but they don’t see any major changes happening anytime soon.
“They put us at the bottom of the list,” said Yakhi, “and it’s been that way for seven years.”
