This article originally published in The Gannon Knight on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012.
Finding a place on campus to relax, play games, meet friends, grab a bite and unwind for the day has just become a lot easier for Gannon students.
Gannon is utilizing the building on the corner of Fourth and Sassafras streets, previously known as the One Green World Café, and transforming it into an interactive place where students can throw darts, play pool and board games and watch Sunday football.
The venue, which has not been named yet, opened its doors to students Friday and Saturday. Students were offered light refreshments and sub sandwiches by Metz Culinary Management.
The doors will open from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. each Friday and Saturday until the official opening later in the fall, according to Sam Hyman, technical director of campus events and the project’s general manager.
After the official opening , the venue will be open from 5-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays.
Linda Wagner, vice president of finance and administration, said university officials wanted to make the building available for students on Friday and Saturday nights to ask for their input and feedback on what kind of food items they would like to see on the menu as well as other feedback.
“We wanted to provide an alternative for students to have for late-night activities,” Wagner said. “It is at a safe location but also very close to the residence halls.”
Liang Liang, a graduate MBA student, said he liked what they have done with the space.
“I have more stuff to do because they have a pool table and you don’t just go there and do nothing,” Liang, who is known as Luke to his friends, said.
According to Wagner, several names are being considered for the venue. Among these are Knight’s Bites, G’Knight and Knight Club; which was the most popular result of an informal poll Wagner had on Saturday.
Wagner said the university also considered naming the place “Joe Lucky” or “Lucky’s” in memory of Joe Lucky, who died in 2011 after dedicating his life to Gannon, where he worked in the maintenance department.
Hyman said officials were going to do a little more active polling in higher traffic areas like the Waldron Campus Center and the Zurn and Palumbo academic buildings. Students will also have the opportunity to vote on their favorite name for the space in next week’s edition of the Knight.
The university has partnered with Julie Glazier from the Sidewalk Café on North Park Row – which is very popular among Gannon students – to provide students with the best food and entertainment experience on campus.
Hyman said the place will satisfy all students’ cravings and will offer classic items like cheeseburgers, fries, pizza, chicken wings, cheese sticks, Greek hotdogs, popcorn, chili and some healthy choices as well, like salads.
“We are hoping to establish a menu and then get feedback from students,” Wagner said. “If there are things that they would like to see and we have the ability to make, we can add them.
“We want to be very user-friendly,” he said.
According to Hyman, the food will be affordable and students will be able to use their GU Gold cards to pay for it.
Students’ entertainment cravings will also be met once the new spot opens. Students will have the chance to throw darts and play pool, cards and board games like Monopoly, Risk and Checkers.
Hyman said the place has a kitchen manager who is a full-time Gannon employee. The management team has also partnered with a student team that helps make decisions and set directions for the place.
“It’s kind of a joint venture between students and administration,” Hyman said.
According to Hyman, the venue’s management also plans to partner with APB and other clubs and organizations on campus and residence halls to feature some events that would attract students like comic stand-up shows.
“There really isn’t a place on campus where students can go and have a place to call their own and let their hair down,” Hyman said. “And also they’ll be able to play games and have fun, have different food options and some entertainment.”
This article originally published in “The Gannon Knight” on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012.
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