Clubs around campus that normally meet in Commons are searching for new meeting places for the duration of the Commons renovation. But club meetings are not all that will be affected. Events that previously took place in Commons, such as the yearly formal dance Blue and Silver, may take place in either the converted Sumner Smith Rink or Davis Hall on Abbot Campus, said Director of Student Activities Cindy Efinger. According to Efinger, Davis Hall would be an elegant venue, though its distance from the main campus may lower its appeal. She added that ultimately the students would decide the location for the formal, noting that the same atmosphere that was achieved in Commons could be recreated both in the new facility or Davis Hall. She also says that the same number of people could attend the event in either location and that space is not an issue. The yearly West Quad North fashion show, also previously held in Commons, will be held in Memorial Gym. Efinger said that the gym setup would accommodate just as many as in a Commons dining hall. According to Director of Facilities Michael Williams, the administration is hoping that no usual events will be cancelled due to the renovations. “It is more likely that some larger events will need to be reduced in size so that they can fit in smaller spaces if the full sized event can’t be scheduled in the limited number of larger spaces,” he wrote in an email. Now that there are very few areas for large events, administrators anticipate that the Case Memorial Cage will become a popular location for large meetings. In Chief Financial Officer Stephen Carter’s open letter to the community about the change, he wrote, “There are just a few areas capable of accommodating large meetings, and these spaces, such as the Cage, are routinely used for other activities.” Director of Facilities Michael Williams wrote, “We expect that the regular athletic schedule for the Cage will limit the uses of that large facility for other events creating potential conflicts.” Eleven clubs, including Amnesty International, French Club, Classic Rock Appreciation Club, meet in the Rose Room, Blue Room, and Ropes Salon, all rooms in the upper level of Commons. Clubs also face the issue of limited availability of meeting spaces. Clubs such as Amnesty International have yet to find a suitable location, and the spots for locations during the renovations are filling up quickly. “No location is perfect,” said Catherine Coppinger ’09, the president of Amnesty International. Amnesty International is considering meeting in the Smith Rink because people usually eat their dinner while writing letters. However, Coppinger is concerned that this location is too far away and that people wouldn’t want to walk all the way down there for a club meeting. Andover Ethics Society will move its weekly meetings from Ropes Salon in Commons to a classroom in Samuel Phillips Hall, said Aaron Sage ’09, the club’s president. Sage said that the move is inconvenient because the club will now have little room to grow and will be limited by the size of its meeting place. Only 15 to 20 students can easily fit in the classroom, said Sage. which poses a problem for joint meetings, such as this week’s, when the Ethics Society will meet with ERAC (Environmental Resources Awareness Council). “People have to be diligent about finding spots… they can’t assume that they’ll get the same locations,” said Efinger.
