Syracuse University is facing the decision of what to do with the vacant space that used to be Haven Dining Center. The dining hall’s closing coincided with the opening of Ernie Davis Dining Center

Auxiliary Services, part of the university’s administration that includes Food Services, the bookstore and Housing, Meal Plan and ID Services, among other things, is currently working with the Department of Campus Planning, Design and Construction to form a plan for the best way to use the space, said Peter Webber, director of Auxiliary Services.

‘We are taking two steps back to look at it,’ Webber said. ‘There’s a protocol we need to go through, and it will take a couple of months.’

The university’s original plan for the space was to convert it into more housing, but it made the decision that there isn’t a significant enough need for housing, Webber said. Students now have new options for housing due to the completion of Ernie Davis Hall and private developer projects such as Park View Apartments across from Haven and University Village Apartments on South Campus, Webber said.

If Auxiliary Services decides on major renovations to the space, a source of funding will be necessary, Webber said.

Another option for the space is a new fitness area, but that might be unnecessary because of the new fitness center in Ernie Davis, Webber said.

The opinion among student residents of Haven Hall on the best use of the space is mixed.

‘I want them to put it (the dining hall) back,’ said Paul Gallant, a junior broadcast journalism major. ‘It’s kind of a useless space now.’

Ankur Vashi, a freshman bioengineering major, agreed with Gallant, adding that some students have to walk far to eat now that Haven Dining Hall is closed.

‘Washington Arms and Walnut are pretty far from Ernie Davis,’ Vashi said.

Sarah Whitehouse, an undeclared freshman in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, likes the idea of more housing being added to Haven. She said she would still want to live there next year even though the dining hall is gone.

‘It was better when it had a dining hall, but it’s still a nice dorm,’ Whitehouse said.

Some students said they see the space as a good area for a study space or a computer cluster.

‘A space for groups in the school to use would be good,’ said Doug Jackson, a sophomore finance major.

Kofi Baah-Boakye, a junior communication and rhetorical studies major, said he thinks a study area would not be unnecessary.

‘The library is right there, so I don’t think we need that,’ he said.

jdgenco@syr.edu

Published on January 27, 2010 at 12:00 pm