Parents and Friends
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For our Alumni, Parents and Friends |
| Fall 2006 | Table of Contents |
 Photos © Ian Bradshaw. |
The David Student Union:
The new heartbeat of campus life
Continuing CNU's tradition of investing in students
By Terri Haynie
“Academics and a strong physical presence speak volumes about the character of a university,” said Christopher Newport University’s Executive Vice President William L. Brauer. “At CNU, we see a powerful connection between the two. For example, we think in terms of the Library representing the mind, The Freeman Sports and Convocation Center representing the body, and the Ferguson Center for the Arts representing the soul. If that is true, then the new Student Union surely represents the heart because it says a lot about who we are as a campus community and who we serve. Quite appropriately, the building sits literally at the ‘heart’ of campus.”
Designed by DMJM Architects and Engineers in Arlington, the David Student Union, which was officially opened and dedicated by President Paul Trible on Sept. 9, features stately Neo-Georgian-style architecture with white columns, keystones above the windows, arched walkways, a colonnade, and a three-story atrium that creates a “street” that bisects the structure, creating the impression of two buildings. The “street” is a main gathering place as well as an indoor thoroughfare continuing pedestrian access from York River Residence Hall to the rest of the campus. Other elements include a grand staircase, four pedestrian bridges that cross the “street” at the two upper levels, and an outdoor dining patio. Unique sun-diffusing skylights crown the third-floor landing, spotlighting the grand staircase.
The David Student Union’s efficiency, style, beauty and attention to detail perfectly complement its functionality. All three floors have student “hubs” for studying, reading, researching or computing with wireless access, and the layout facilitates smooth traffic flow and easy navigation. At every turn something draws the eye: doors recessed into hallway walls in a half-diamond pattern, green views of the campus’ Great Lawn from tall windows, the interplay of tile and glossy wood grains.
Architectural appeal and a bold mix of textures and colors, such as burnished cherry wood and hues of gold and blue, define the building’s interior and reflect the unique vision of President Trible and his wife, Rosemary, who were actively involved in the design of the building and in approving interior finish selections. “As a team, they have an incomparable sense of design, quality and beauty, as well as an appreciation for the significance of these spaces and their impact on people. The Tribles were able to create special places that will nurture and promote a sense of community,” Mr. Brauer said.
The David Student Union continues the University’s tradition of investing in students through providing updated, comfortable amenities. And though the campus has expanded, it has remained true to its goal: to provide small classes that are the hallmark of a private liberal arts education with facilities that few institutions can rival.
“The building reflects what CNU has become, which is a University serving a vibrant, traditional and largely residential student body,” said Mr. Brauer.
What’s in the new Student Union?
Tasty choices
Food vendors and residential dining occupy the first floor and represent groundbreaking offerings for CNU students. The dining area serves the campus’ 3,000 resident students and is available to day students, faculty and staff as well. Food vendors include Chick-fil-A, Stone Willy’s Pizza, a dessert shop called “Sweet Street,” and “Discovery Bistro,” a gourmet sandwich shop. The residential dining experience offers a continuous breakfast bar, Mongolian barbecue, a brick oven, a dessert venue, and many other food and beverage stations. Layout is spacious, choices are diverse and the hours have been expanded to cater to students’ schedules.
This isn’t your mom and dad’s college cafeteria. Students can enjoy their meals in cozy alcoves or open areas, on the outdoor patio, or in an upscale dining room accented with white table linens and crackling fireplaces reserved for special occasions. A contemporary, comfortable ambience and a wide selection of fresh, healthy foods are highlights of the Student Union dining area — an institutional feel is not.
Not just a Bookstore
Like CNU dining, the two-story CNU Bookstore has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis from its former location in the old Student Center, both in size and retail strategy. Pete Romando, director of bookstore operations, studied the demographics of the student population and designed the new space to offer a wider range of services and products.
According to Mr. Romando, students enjoy full mail and shipping services and benefit from a new computer center offering educationally discounted products; iPods, software and laptops are available at prices lower than those of major competitors. From the upscale convenience store he calls “our high-end 7-Eleven” to the cosmetics counter with CNU’s own brand of makeup, Mr. Romando has crafted a retail space that is unique, aesthetically beguiling and molded to fit CNU’s spirited image.
Work from local artists — pottery, paintings, handmade jewelry — is on consignment through a local artists’ consortium and is beautifully displayed throughout the store. Mr. Romando is particularly proud of the new fine arts section offering quality art supplies previously only available in Norfolk or Richmond. Best of all, pricing is tiered to fit students’ budgets. “Pricing is very affordable for the average student,” he said. “There is something for everyone.”
The textbook space is also highly adaptable. During book rushes, staff members can move cash registers wherever they are needed. The system is wireless, and everything is on wheels. During quieter times of the year, the textbook area can be used for meetings, book signings or even children’s readings.
What’s up?
Ascending the grand staircase to the second floor, one enters a spacious staging area for events leading to five large satellite meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities. Nearby, the light-filled boardroom with its balcony overlooks the Great Lawn and campus. The ballroom undoubtedly ranks as the most dramatic second-floor space. It achieves the “wow” factor for two reasons: it is one of the University’s most versatile spaces, and arguably its most beautiful. Two tiers of rectangular windows, soaring 24-foot ceilings and sky-blue walls set a grand stage for such occasions as the Captain’s Ball and weekend events. The ballroom can accommodate up to 1,000 people.
The Association of College Unions International likens the Student Union to the “living room” of the campus. Nowhere is that better demonstrated than on the second floor of the David Student Union. Here students pick up their mail and spend quality down time in the TV lounge, enjoying PlayStation or X-Box tournaments in a specially designed room, playing pool or just unwinding in a variety of relaxed settings. Kim Roeder, director of student activities, embraces the “living room” premise and adds that one of the smartest decisions made regarding the Student Union was to house all the mailboxes there, requiring students to “de-cocoon” from residence life and enter a vibrant
social setting.
“We want people to come into the building,” Mrs. Roeder said. “This is the living room where you feel comfortable and meet your friends from across campus, where you get something to eat and study a little bit, where you can watch TV. It’s the place where students feel really comfortable. You have to get them in the building, and one of the ways to do that is through their mailboxes.”
Mrs. Roeder noted that face-to-face interaction has decreased significantly for students because of instant messaging, cell phones and iPods. “The Student Union will help them connect and develop those friendships and connections to keep them in college. Having a building with the sole purpose of bringing students together is really critical in today’s society.
No more runaround
 Archway outside the David Student Union. Photo © Ian Bradshaw. |
To further that mission and to eliminate the “campus runaround,” the third floor was designed to cluster the offices that are essential to student life. Academic Advising, Career Development, Student Life and Services, judicial offices, and 35 eagerly awaited spaces occupied by student clubs and organizations are housed on the third floor.
“We’re going from nine to more than 30 offices, so it’s a tremendous increase in the number available to our student groups,” Mrs. Roeder said. She is also thrilled about the new student organization resource center, which offers students tools and resources to create fliers, brochures and posters. Available to all organizations, the center also has a copier and a computer with graphic design software. “The organizations were on their own before,” Mrs. Roeder said, “So this will be a big improvement for them. The center will be maintained by our office, and there’s funding to support it. We really hope the groups will take advantage of it.”
Lisa Burris, director of the Office of Career Development, cites the benefit of being neighbors with the Office of Academic Advising. “Often when students are torn about a major, they’ll leave Academic Advising with the intention of stopping by career services, but they may not always do so. Now, advising is right next door, and they’ll be able to help the students get to us or students can leave here and make an appointment with advising.”
The David Student Union also will help nurture relationships between CNU and area employers through the Office of Career Development’s heightened visibility and new interview rooms with online access. “The fact that we have interview rooms is an expectation of the employers, and it’s a nice, private environment for students to meet with them,” said Ms. Burris.
Donna Eddleman, dean of students, said that the new Student Union will enhance student services. “It’s about providing better quality services as well as opportunities for our students, and it’s about the synergy that’s created and the ideas that will be cultivated as a result of people being collocated. And that, for me, is really exciting.”
“I think we’re in for some very happy, excited students,” said Dean Eddleman. “They’re going to feel really good that they’re here, and feel valued and important. If that message extends beyond this community into their larger work and home communities, I think it will certainly have an impact on what people are saying about Christopher Newport University.”
David Student Union honors William R. and Goldie R. David
 The Davids at the naming and dedication of the new building.. |
Given the opportunity to name Christopher Newport University’s new student union building, Buddy David and his family chose to honor their parents, William R. and Goldie R. David.
“Helping CNU create a student union that encourages happy gatherings enveloped in a spirit of mutual support and community was a fitting way to remember our parents and grandparents,” said Edward D. “Buddy” David, a member of the law firm David, Kamp & Frank LLC and a former leader of CNU’s Educational and Real Estate Foundations.
“My brother, sister and I are the grandchildren of immigrants who cherished the opportunity this country gave them. We are children, and our children are the grandchildren, of hard working and honorable people. Our parents and heritage taught us not to take our good fortune for granted. We are thrilled that CNU afforded us an opportunity in some small measure to give back,” said Mr. David, expressing the sentiments of his family members, brother Marvin David, sister Sue David Kline, and their 10 collective children.
“We would hope that in the student union, CNU students would find camaraderie and make lasting friendships. The grandeur of the campus can hide the real success story of CNU. At this school, students gain the life skills they need to live productive, decent, moral and charitable lives. It is our hope that the student union will be a cog in accomplishing that objective.”
Mr. David and his wife, Libby Blechman David, have been longtime friends of Paul and Rosemary Trible, and have contributed immeasurably to the University and its students. Mr. David led CNU’s Educational and Real Estate Foundations to decisive roles in CNU’s development and success. Mrs. David and her family established the Franklin O. Blechman Memorial Trust, which provides annual scholarships that encourage students to teach in the Newport News Public Schools following completion of CNU’s Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
“The naming of our student union gives us the opportunity to say thanks to Buddy and Libby David and their families — the Davids and Blechmans — who, through their leadership and generosity, have had a dramatic impact on this University for nearly two decades,” said President Trible at the Sept. 9 dedication ceremony.
The Student Union Board
The Student Union Board was formed in April 2005 to serve in an advisory capacity during the transition into the new Student Union. Made up of 10 students and two faculty members, “the Board was designed to provide feedback and to keep the people who run and work in the building current on what student needs are,” said Kim Roeder, director of student activities.
One of its most important tasks was allocating the 35 available offices to CNU’s 72 student clubs and organizations. By instituting a fair and unbiased application process, the board was able to move 50 organizations into shared spaces. The board will continue to administer this process each year.
Members also met with Rosemary Trible, wife of President Paul Trible, to discuss color schemes, furniture, and fabric and expressed opinions on how the dining operation should be structured. Through their involvement, they’ve received valuable life lessons on how such a process works. “Any time you have a student group giving feedback, there is an opportunity for us to educate them on how a system works,” said Mrs. Roeder, describing how students realized they didn’t really need 24-hour dining because those hours would not allow for adequate cleaning.
“The students on the board are so connected on campus that they were able to go out to their constituent groups and get great input. They’ve been very helpful in trying to determine building hours and procedures and what to put in the student organization resource center,” Mrs. Roeder said.
Jeni Ramos, a member of the Board, was thrilled when the Student Union finally opened. “I think it’s changing the way student life occurs on campus,” she said.
“The building has so many more aspects of student life in it, not just a cafeteria and some couches. It has offices, people to talk to all the time, different game areas, your mail. It’s the heartbeat of the campus.”