By Marley Malenfant/feature editor

SE Campus opened its three-story Science and Academic Building Jan. 10 with more than 30 classrooms along with offices, study areas, computer labs and a bistro.

Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley reminisced about SE Campus’ enrollment when the campus debuted in 1996.

“We expected 5,000 students,” she said. “Last semester, we had 15,000 students enrolled on this campus. Nobody thought we’d ever get that many students.”

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, who attended TCC, spoke on the significance of the building.

“We’re [the U.S.] not having success in math and science, so this is why this building is so crucial,” she said. “I go to D.C. every week, and we talk about what we hear. Michigan is really struggling right now. We have a lot to brag about.”

SE student Christopher Houters said he’s glad he can use new lab equipment.

“The old labs were really crowded,” he said. “In the chemistry and biology labs, the supplies were disposable. Those labs seem to have a shortage of dishes and microscopes.”

SE speech instructor Tonya Blivens said she feels blessed to have a new office.

“I went from a storage closet to an actual office,” she said.

SE biology instructor Laurie Ertle said the new building removes the student congestion in the hallways of the other building.

“Students have more lab space and can form study groups instead of trying to study in the hall,” she said. “I had to duck and dodge students in the hallway to get to my lecture.”