{"509861":{"#nid":"509861","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Voting Opens Today for the Student Center\u2019s Re(in)novation Referendum","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EVoting begins today for the Student Center\u2019s Re(in)novation Referendum, which will determine whether students approve of a new mandatory fee to support the renovation and expansion of the Student Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVoting is open until Wednesday, March 16, at 11 p.m., at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.elections.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ewww.elections.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E. The vote concludes a six-week campaign meant to illustrate for the campus the many reasons why the re(in)novation project is necessary.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of fun the past six weeks talking with students about the opportunities we\u2019ll have in a re(in)novated space,\u201d says fourth-year student and Re(in)novation Champion Anna Berinhout. \u201cOnce students see the compelling stats, most agree that these changes are needed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe proposed fee will not exceed $85\/semester and will not take effect until the new facilities are open for student use in approximately three to five years. The fee would be used to cover 50 percent of the $100 million capital cost of the project, which includes adding 120,000 square feet to the building\u2019s footprint to meet the needs of the Georgia Tech community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo get an understanding of what that new square footage should include, the Student Center carried out a visioning research and assessment exercise with more than 250 students, staff, and faculty in fall 2014 and spring 2015. Research results revealed a need for additional study, social, and relaxation lounges; student organization space; retail and dining services; and meeting, event, and outdoor spaces.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf students vote to move the project forward, the Student Center will begin a series of focus groups, forums, surveys, and pilot spaces to gather student suggestions until the design phase is complete.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetween now and next Wednesday, the Student Center team will be out on campus with information, giveaways, and programs encouraging students to vote.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStudents rarely get the chance to weigh in on something that will have such a lasting impact on Georgia Tech,\u201d said Student Center Interim Director Lindsay Bryant. \u201cWe want to make sure we hear from as many students as possible, to know we\u2019re building something the whole student body can get behind.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EActivities for the week include opportunities for students to build their dream spaces out of Legos\u00ae and see the view from the Student Center roof \u2014 a key consideration for useable space in the new facility. Additionally, Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the building will be offered every day during the voting period to give students a look at the critical needs of the current facility. The 45-minute tours depart at 11:10 a.m. from the Information Desk, located on the second floor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the project and vote week events at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.reinnovation.studentcenter.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewww.reinnovation.studentcenter.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EVoting begins today for the Student Center\u2019s Re(in)novation Referendum, which will determine whether students approve of a new mandatory fee to support the renovation and expansion of the Student Center.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Voting begins today for the Student Center\u2019s Re(in)novation Referendum, which will determine whether students approve of a new mandatory fee to support the renovation and expansion of the Student Center."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2016-03-09 10:26:31","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:21:01","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-03-09T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2016-03-09T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"488911":{"id":"488911","type":"image","title":"Re(in)novate the Student Center Campaign","body":null,"created":"1453395600","gmt_created":"2016-01-21 17:00:00","changed":"1475895245","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:54:05","alt":"Re(in)novate the Student Center Campaign","file":{"fid":"204387","name":"referendum_main_web_flyer.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/referendum_main_web_flyer_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/referendum_main_web_flyer_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":964315,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/referendum_main_web_flyer_0.jpg?itok=B1t8JY3l"}}},"media_ids":["488911"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/studentcenter.gatech.edu\/explore\/reinnovation\/Pages\/default.aspx","title":"Student Center Re(in)novation"},{"url":"https:\/\/elections.gatech.edu\/cfeis\/sea\/","title":"Student Elections"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"171800","name":"student center referendum"},{"id":"171801","name":"student fee"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kate.curnow@stucen.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EM. Kate Curnow\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E Communication \u0026amp; Marketing Manager\u003Cbr \/\u003EStudent Center \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}