WMU's new student center

CENTER -- RIGHT IN THE HEART OFTHE KALAMAZOO CAMPUS.FOX 17'S LAUREN KUMMER EXPLAINSWHY THE UPGRADE WAS SODESPERATELY NEEDED.Lauren StandUp: THE NEW W-M-USTUDENT CENTER I JSUST ONE PARTOF THE HILLTOP VILLAGEDEVELOPMENT WHICH STARTEDCONSTRUCTION LAST YEAR.

AS ITTAKES SHAPE, STUDENTS SAYTHEY'RE ALREADY ANTICIPATINGIT'SOPENING.

Drew BeckmanFreshman, Western MichiganUniversityWith the Bernhard Centergetting older, itw ill be niceto have a new fresh building.

Imean you can see how modern itlooks, and the new dining centerwill be nice too.9s IT'S RIGHT IN THE HEART OFTHECAMPU S THE NEW STUDENT CENTERAT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITYWILL OFFER A NUMBER OFAMENITIES, SERVICES ANDGATHERING SPACES.

Will BrandtFreshman, Western MichiganUniversityI think having a dining centerin the mdidle of campus willreally bring a lot of thepeople together.

Obviously,having a new student centerwhere everyone can sorto fgravitate together is also goingto be really good, especiallyfor new students.14s CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW165- THOUSAND SQUARE FOOTSTUDENT CENT ERBEGAN AROUND AYEAR AND A HALF AGO.THE BUILDING WILL REPLACE THEBERNHARD STUDENT CENTER WHICHAVERAGED 6-THOUSAND PLUS PEOPLEPER DAY, PRE-COVID.Paul Terzino Director of theBernhard Center & New StudentCenter, Western MichiganUniversityThe Bernhard Center was builtin 1957, and it reallya hsoutlived itself.

It has servedus well, but it is time for anew building with more to theneeds for our students today.9s THE AROUND 90- MILLIONDOLLAR BUILDING WILL INCLUDEMOREDINING OPTIONS, STUDY SPACES,MEETING ROOMS, A BAKN, GAMEROOMS, THE BOOKSTORE AND EVENTHE ADMISSIONS FICOFE.AS WELL AS A 3- THOUSAND SQUAREFOOT BREWPUB SERVIN LGOCAL CRAFTBEERS, WINE AND FOOD.

Terzino -Western's does not nor does anystudent center in Michigan thatwe know of have something likethis.

One reason that wae redoing it is really unique and Ithink it is going to put us onthe map as far as that goes.

Wealso have on-campus asustainable brewing program, sowe can actually feature ourustdents work in thepub.19s THE BREWPUB WILL ALSO BEABLE TO HOST LARGE GATHERINGSANDWILL EVEN OFFER ENTERTAINMENT ONCERTAIN NIGHTS FROM W-M-USTUDENTS.

THE ENTIRE BUILDGINDESIGNFOCUSING ON INCLUSIVITY ANDWELCOMENESS TO ALL WHO USE IT,ESPECIALLY STUDENTS.

Terzino -I think this can really be acentral focus for all of thethings going on like meetings,eating, studying and gatheringin the pub.8s Lauren Tag: WESTERNMICHIGAN UNIVERSITY SAYS IT'SEXPECTING TO OPEN THE BUILDINGBY THE END OF SUMMER NEXT YEAR.REPORTING IN KALAMAZOO, LK, FOX17 NEWS.WITH MORE AND MORE DISTRICTS ANDHEALTH DEPARTMENTS MANDATINGTHEM... MASKS AE RA HOT BUTTONTOPIC FOR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS..."we want those kids to be here,happy, safe and learning.

So wework with families and wehaven't had a problem."AND MANY PARENTS ARE TRYING TOOPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT...WITH MORE