Trading spaces: negotiations necessary on cramped campus

With the numerous activities, programs and events that occur on Seton Hill University (SHU), groups have to work with each other to find a schedule that is beneficial for everyone. Working together has occurred many times this academic year on campus. In particular, the Student-Body Activities Council (SAC) and the Physician’s Assistant program worked together in regards to negotiating space on campus. There have been minor conflicts and scheduling issues, such as in Lynch Hall.

By Lacey Stefan,

Contributer

With the numerous activities, programs and events that occur on Seton Hill University (SHU), groups have to work with each other to find a schedule that is beneficial for everyone. Working together has occurred many times this academic year on campus. In particular, the Student-Body Activities Council (SAC) and the Physician’s Assistant program worked together in regards to negotiating space on campus. There have been minor conflicts and scheduling issues, such as in Lynch Hall.

“Lynch was originally for Physician’s Assistant programs but SAC wanted to use it for performances in the spring semester and it was able to be worked out,” said Jaimie Steel, assistant dean of student services.

Steel also mentioned there was a meeting held with key faculty members in order to accommodate everyone. Betty Cianciotto, a receptionist in the Administration building, takes care of reserving spaces for events while Mark Bungo, the head baseball coach, is in charge of scheduling the activities and events in the McKenna Center and on the sports fields.

In regards to how the space is divided among groups, Steel said, “It’s academics that get the preference first, then it’s basically a free for all.” It was rumored that SAC and the Physician’s Assistant program competed for space on campus.

That rumor may have originated with negotiations and discussions between the two to sort things out. Tom Donovan, a graduate assistant in the Office of student activities and commuter life, and the advisor of SAC, also confirmed that there were negotiations between SAC and the Physician’s Assistant program.

Donovan said that, “We reserved the space in Lynch before a conference in October and then found that they [Physician’s Assistant Program] are using it.” Both sides have contacted one another to work it out and the result is, “They use the space until 6pm, so we can’t get in there until after that and it’s free to us on Friday’s also.”

Cathy Shallenberger, of the Physician’s Assistant program said “I don’t decide, I just go where I am told to go,” in regards to the use of space on campus. More than trading spaces, these groups have been able to cooperate and share the spaces available.