By Emelia Hitchner
A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the beginning of a new gathering area where students and groups will have the opportunity to break the monotony of classroom settings.
President Carol Eaton from Daytona State College, with the assistance of Cathy Webb, Student Government Association president, introduced the freshly constructed student commons area on March 30 to an eager mixture of faculty and students.
Upon arrival as the new president of DSC last August, Eaton felt inspired to rally senior staff to consider expanding on the landscape that could benefit the learning environment for students.
“Our focus is on our students and their ability to learn and to grow and to be a part of the campus community. We think the environment is very important,” stated Eaton, prior to the ribbon-cutting.
Workers, contractors and people from DJ Design Architects were present to witness the ceremony and add to the excitement of the recent campus addition.
Named “The Landing,” the space was created to cater to the needs of students desiring a place to hang out, as well as to groups wishing to stage performances or gather for meetings.
“The design is meant for the ability for groups to come together and have speeches and to have fun times together,” said Eaton of the layout.
Upon completion, the construction of the area aroused activity among students. The staging quarter of The Landing features a spacious place for students to enjoy the open air while still receiving cover from the roof above.
“I’m really excited about the wonderful space we have here. It’s going to be easy access to students all over the campus.
The students have begun to enjoy this area already and we hope this becomes a daily gathering place for presentations and performances,” said an excited Webb during the ceremony. “We’d like to hear from you and what you’d like to use this area for, going forward from here.”
With the new addition of the student commons area, DSC has taken a step forward in providing the necessary elements for a beautiful and comfortable study environment. Students can begin to experience the world outside of the classroom, while enjoying the hustle and bustle of the campus surrounding them.