By Anderson Colemon/tr news editor
The TR student government association is trying to make study time more comfortable for students in the newly designed Gathering Corner.
TR Campus SGA president Mark Warneke said the decision to dedicate space to students was based on what he called the primary issue: study spaces for students.
“One of the things we decided we need to take care of was the fact we didn’t have enough study spaces,” he said. “At the time, we had 18 study spaces on the fifth floor.”
Last year, some of TCC’s district offices moved from the Water Gardens to TR Campus’ third floor, taking away study spaces from students.
“Not only did we not have enough study space, we found ourselves with 10 fewer study spaces,” Warneke said.
The SGA searched around the campus looking for places to create new study spaces for students and, after meeting with vice president of academic affairs Bryan Stewart, they found a room.
“We noticed every floor has a faculty lounge, but we didn’t see one room we could use,” Warneke said.
The group asked Stewart if the campus could convert one of the teacher lounges on the fifth floor. Stewart agreed, and the group dubbed the room “The Gathering Corner.”
“Now we have a room that students can go in that’s more secluded and quieter to go and study,” Warneke said. “But by having this student lounge there now, students can just sit and relax.”
Stewart was “proud” of what the TR SGA has done for students.
“They have a really great space in the center of the building, which makes it more convenient for students to hangout,” Stewart said.
Not only does the Gathering Corner cater to students, but clubs on TR Campus can meet in there as well.
“Over the last year, the number of clubs on campus has doubled,” Warneke said. “All of a sudden, we have like 30 clubs on campus having weekly meetings with nowhere to put them, so now we have a room like the [Gathering Corner] where they can meet.”
In the Gathering Corner, students use the room to discuss club activities.
One club leader president Jonathan Gonzalez said the room has many resources at its disposal.
“It’s a very quiet place for students to study,” Gonzalez said. “The Wi-Fi connection is also better.”
TR student Karla Viera said the Gathering Corner “beats” the other study spaces around campus.
“It’s a convenient, comfortable spot and the ideal space for studying and relaxing,” Viera said. “It even has a sink.”
