The Associated Students are in the process of seeking approval for the renovation of the Student Center with $2.5 million for a down payment.

The new building will be a non-academic center where students can regroup and hang out, complete with multipurpose rooms, a lounge area with couches and a later closing time.

“We want to show students that AS cares for them,” said AS President Farshid Orak. “They Voted for us.”

AS wants the Student Center building to be rebuilt from the ground up. They want to bulldoze the current 48-year-old building, and start from scratch. AS has $2.5 million for a down payment on a loan to finance construction.

They plan on using funds received from the Student Center Fees in the coming years to make payments, said Vice-President Mayra Contreras.

The Student Center Fee is paid by students at $1 for every enrolled unit for a maximum of $10 per year, according to Advisor Sharon Miller.

For 14 years, AS has been raising money for the renovation of the Student Center. In 2003 Measure S Bond was passed by Ventura County Voters to allocate $110 million in funding for construction on the three campuses in the district.

Originally, a new Student Center building was on the campus’ Facilities Master Plan to be completed with the funding from the Measure S Bond.

Due to the economy and rising construction costs over the years, the new Student Center project was moved to the bottom of the list and eventually removed, said Miller.

Now over ten years later, all the money from the Measure S Bond has been used up and planned construction completed.

Before construction can begin on the new Student Center building, the project will have to be approved.

The Board of Trustees, Moorpark College’s president and student government will have to vote whether or not Moorpark College will gain a new student center, said Orak.

The new student center will extend forward and up two-stories. A galleria, bigger cafeteria with a kitchen, a café for live music, multipurpose rooms, along with a salt water aquarium, to be used by the Exotic Animal Management and Training program, are some of the ideas for the updated Student Center, according to Orak.

“It should be inviting with many areas for students to sit, talk and study,” said Miller in an email.

Barnes & Noble, which currently manages the district bookstores with a five-year contract, has already expressed interest in a new student center.

They want a modern location for their bookstore and have offered to pay for their part of the new student center, according to Orak.

The original SC plan had money specifically set aside for a new bookstore, but due to Barnes and Noble paying for the portion of the new SC that will house the bookstore, original bookstore funds can be used elsewhere.

Credit for devising the plan for rebuilding the Student Center goes to Miller. She has been with MC for 21 years and was present when plans were first establish in 2003.

“I came from a major university with a dynamic student union and I wanted to have the same for MC students,” said Miller in an email. “ A place for them to go between classes, study, have a bite to eat, play a game, relax, meet fellow students, attend an event and feel connected to their campus.”