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The Centennial Student Union Board is inviting students to take a seat - literally.
As the planned renovation of Ostrander Auditorium moves forward, the CSU Board has given students the opportunity to express their preference for which type of new seat is installed.
The three options have been displayed outside Ostrander this week next to a sign asking students to "Tell us what you think." Students are able to test each seat and then vote for their favorite.
Some have taken the opportunity to do more than vote, however.
"Why are we buying new chairs when there is a budget shortfall?" one person scribbled beneath the vote tally. "Ditto," another wrote.
While new seats - and the renovation of an entire auditorium - might seem strange when Minnesota State is facing significant budget cuts, in reality the work will have little impact on the university's budget situation.
That's because funding for the renovation, new seats and all, comes from student fees and have been allocated toward the CSU and saved for upkeep efforts such as this.
"It's one of those projects that's been on the books for years," said CSU Director Laurie Woodward. "We need to do [the renovation] because the seats are falling apart and we have to renovate it for [Americans with Disabilities Act] purposes. It's also a recruitment retention thing, since it's one of the first buildings students sit in when they come to campus."
Minnesota State Student Association senator and CSU Board member Kris Lovstad echoed that sentiment.
"The thing is so out of date it's not ADA compliant right now," he said.
Bringing the auditorium into compliance with the ADA involves adjusting the doorways and ramps, Lovstad indicated. He also noted Ostrander's sound and lighting systems "are shot."
According to Woodward, the facility still contains the original seats that were installed in 1968. MSU projects the renovation will cost around $1.4 million, she said, although it has yet to start collecting bids from contractors. The renovation, which was planned two years ago, is scheduled to begin this summer.
In the meantime, students are taking advantage of the opportunity to provide input. One student who stopped to compare seats Wednesday was senior Leah Vandervest, who said she appreciated the chance to express her preferences.
"I like it because they want our input on what we want, and that's a good thing to have," she said.
Vandervest decided all three choices are "decently comfortable" but she preferred two in particular.
Not everyone had a preference, however. One person scribbled on the board: "None of these."
Derek Wehrwein is the Reporter editor in chief
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