Blackboard Magazine SPR 08

Headline: Die, Norris, Die!

Byline: Tiffany Walden

There is only one place on campus where you can catch a concert, watch a play and juke on the
dance floor. Norris Student Center is the place where many student groups go when it comes to
hosting their events.

Although Norris’ location on campus may be convenient, many Northwestern students think
their student center should offer more.

“I think that the Louis Room is really open,” says junior Rotimi Akinosho, who is the lead singer
of Rotimi and the Rainmakers.

Akinosho has performed in Norris before and is familiar with what it has to offer for performers
and party-goers. “In a tight place, it’s hard to see what everybody is doing which motivates
people to dance. People are scared to dance in the Louis Room.”

Aside from the student center’s appearance, the notion that only a few main rooms host almost
all activities at Norris troubles some students.

“You’re there for a career fair, then turn right back around and are there for a party,” says senior
Ashley Davis, Co-Publicity Chair of the Theta Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Those who host or attend parties and events at Norris are finding themselves conflicted. “If
somebody I trusted told me that it might be popping, then maybe I’ll go check it out,” says
Amilcar Kamau Massey, a freshman majoring in Communication Studies. “But making my own
personal decisions, I probably wouldn’t go to very many because they have been disappointing
since I’ve gotten here.”

In past years, NU’s Black Greek organizations under the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
explored their options when it came to hosting parties and made use of other on-campus
locations like Shanley Pavilion – a small shack now home to many theater productions – and
Blomquist Gymnasium, according to Adam Welton, a recent Northwestern grad and member of
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. “It’s not the 80’s anymore,” he says. “And people would get
uncomfortable dancing in a gym. We moved the parties to Sergeant.”

However, Sergeant – an undergraduate student dorm – no longer permits organizations to host

parties there for security reasons, especially considering the fact that those throwing the parties
typically lived off-campus and would therefore potentially have access to a student dormitory.
“Different party space gives a different feel and a different space arrangement,” Davis says.
“Granted, it’s the same people, but having it at new locations makes it a different experience
from the traditional Norris experience.”

Northwestern students in the Black community are hoping that the construction of a new student
center will come from newly elected Associated Student Government President Mike McGee.
Though constructing a brand new student center is a little extreme, McGee hopes to work with
the resources available.

“I definitely think Northwestern is dealing with space issues,” says the twenty-year-old elect.

McGee seems to already have a plan. “One of my goals as ASG President is to work with
campus buildings and helping them become more flexible in use of space.”

Ultimately, what McGee and other students are hoping for are more and better options in terms
of locations where they can host their parties and events.