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#Post#: 5169--------------------------------------------------
Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 7, 2013, 8:13 am
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For years ive wracked my brain on what SB can do to make the
experience and the campus even better. They do so many things
right. And we discuss ad nauseum. I do think there are some
things they can do better. Along with this, i do understand
that things are easier said than done, and that with a large
state institution, things like red tape, local residents, NCAA
regs, funding, etc. all get in the way.
I started to think about this because of the other thread about
building a college town in SB. Here's some ideas im curious for
your thoughts:
-Quads: This may sound silly, and purely aesthetic, but the
classic university feel is to have open grass fields with the
crossing paths, whether in the academic mall or dorms. How
expensive can this be?
(HTM) http://fe.fs.cornell.edu/img/mainPage/ArtsQuad.jpg
-Halls: other than Harriman Hall, we dont name our schools nor
our buildings as halls. Bring in some donors, put their names
on the schools, call it a hall. I know this is a public school,
but its done for dorms, so lets do it for buildings. Staller
Hall. Pritchard Hall. Dubin Hall. Etc. Take our presidents'
names to make the example- Toll Hall, Marburger Hall, Kenny
Hall, Stanley Hall.
-Schools: same as above, we have an arts & sciences school, slap
a name on it. Take the engineering school, for example, think
about it. The Casado School of Engineering!
(HTM) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook_University#Colleges_and_professional_schools
-Tower: i guess we have a tower now with the Wang Center right?
Something that when kids today go to google images and plug in
SB, they will immediately recognize our campus with an
identifiable something. Im talking about something that's smack
in the middle of campus, perhaps a giant clocktower. Long term
project.
-Stone/Brick buildings: i know this is not our thing, as we are
not the traditional private university. But i dont believe that
kids would rather go to school in a super modern glass building
than something like this:
(HTM) http://conmedisys.com/img/12/128/Virtual_Tour_Perkins_Library_Duke_University.jpg
-NYC Club: we cant yet afford our own club, however, with the
large alumni base working/living in the NYC area, we should tap
this. There are clubs that allow any university grad (maybe the
University Club?) but SB should in the future try and foster a
relationship with an existing club, and hold events there. For
example, the Cornell Club has reciprocity with Gtown and a few
other schools.
-Campus Housing: kids are either relegated to the dorms or
somewhere in a suburban house a few towns away. We need to find
how we can get more apartments on/near campus to enhance the
experience. The atmosphere will remain the same if kids live in
Selden, and others in Sound Beach, for example. I know for a
fact that freshman are routinely tripled up in dorms. This can
even become a cash cow. Or privatize the operation, whatever.
-College Town: other than PJ, which is a few miles away, weve
already discussed the building of a college town, which could
likely only happen on 25a, or perhaps in some of the open space
they have immediately south of main campus, or perhaps in the
open space near Nicholls Road. Perhaps more student housing
could go here as well in the future. Look at this map and tell
me we dont have the space:
(HTM) http://tinyurl.com/agyyy59
-Hierarchy: when i got to SB, there were no "freshman dorms". I
lived amongst sophomores, seniors, freshman, everything. Get
all the freshmen into the Mendelsohn and H Quads, building
relationships right from the getgo. These are the corridors,
not the private suites where you dont meet as many people. Then
give them the option to move up to the other nicer apartments.
Dont have freshmen living with seniors, different interests.
Then make those dorms your target for getting kids out to games
and events (right near the stadium!). Enforce the honors dorms
(Roth Quad) and make it something to shoot form.
-Tradition: we are relatively young and deficient when it comes
to tradition. I dont even know where to start. Cornell has an
entire page dedicated to Cornelliana. In time we will have it.
But we need to start building this now. Do we have a statue
anywhere on campus? We need our students to build these, i
understand, but we also should start taking some queues from
other universities on this.
(HTM) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelliana
-Legends: this one we have covered- the bridge to nowhere, the
Melville Library was built backwards, etc. Unfortunately for
us, both are not the "good" kind of legends. Again, mostly up
to the students.
-Rivalry: we have at times built rivalries, but since
conferences change, we havent had steady rivals. SJU/Hof
dropped football, Hof wont play us in other sports, BU is
leaving the AE, we are leaving the Big South, and we may leave
the AE in the future. We need to have a rivalry week and get
the students fired up, or something like that.
-Student Activities: many other schools enhance the student
experience by having things like senior week, theme weekends,
school sponsored activities, etc. We dont do enough of this,
or, the ones they do students arent interested in. The Roth
Regatta is great, but most students dont go. And the Strawberry
Fest isnt something to get all that excited about (and i like
strawberries).
-Weekends: this has always been a problem because kids are from
the NYC area and can easily get the train home on thursday
afternoon. Maybe start admitting kids from out of state (more
$$$) or from further away, to entice kids to stay on campus.
From what i understand, decades ago this wasnt a problem, but
during the Marburger years the campus has quieted down and has
never recovered.
-Fight Song: we finally got a fight song, and the kids are
learning it at games. But what we need is for kids is a little
brainwashing if you will, like give out posters with the lyrics,
send emails that link to the mp3, get people to listen to it.
Same for the alma mater. Play them both over the PA at LaValle
and Pritchard, have the band play it more, have the band sing
the words and let the students pick up on it.
(HTM) http://tinyurl.com/abnyrgj
-A little brainwashing: right when kids arrive, put t-shirts in
their welcome pack, buttons, a phone cover with the SB logo, get
it everywhere. You want them and their friends to see it
everywhere. Put bball schedules and football schedules in
there, magnets for the fridge, everything, a key chain, a hat,
whatever it takes. Get a poster of the sports teams and give
them out, kids will put them on their walls.
*I understand these ideas are mostly far fetched, expensive, and
maybe even not welcome. However, i will add to them, as i truly
believe SB will become better and better! Im trying to help,
and rant at the same time. Have at it....
#Post#: 5170--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Hammertime Date: February 7, 2013, 8:38 am
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Chairman, As usual you come up with great ideas and insights.
Your opinions are always right on and I think you should forward
this thesis over to the President of SBU,,,, Samuel L Stanley..
You never know what could happen. Tell him you have hundreds of
followers from the Forum who agrees with a lot of your ideas
#Post#: 5177--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ecasadoSBU Date: February 7, 2013, 10:03 am
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While its almost impossible to build the traditional ivy
university feel into the Stony Brook campus due to the
architecture and era of campus growth (Brutalist architecture is
very popular in campus and unless we destroy half of the campus
we can't get rid of it) we can still take steps to enhance the
campus
I will never forget walking to every UConn Dining hall and
seeing the "Students Today, Huskies Forever" phrase... Something
so simple, but it can build so much pride. Even I felt the pride
as I walked into the Uconn Dining Halls and I never was a
student... LOL...
Somethings that I saw at the University of Connecticut that
impressed me:
1)All TVs controlled remotely which play UCONN games when they
are on. No one has a choice. Those are UCONN Sports TVs when its
Gametime
2)Couches that all have the "Huskies" and "UC" logo in every
lounge
3)School colors used everywhere
4)upcoming Game Ads in the Dining tables everywhere on campus
5)A large marketplace next to the Gampel Pavilion with a wide
selection of Huskies gear
6)Everything is named after the Huskies: HuskyVision (Cable
service), HuskyBucks (Campus Cash), HuskyTV (Campus TV Channel),
etc, etc, etc. Everything named with Huskies as a prefix is an
excelent idea. This kids are brainwashed by the second day of
school. My GF attends the University so I know...
7)They also have a great Student Union.... Our Union SUCKS!
There is no way around it. The SU we currently have does not fit
the profile of a national university. this is priority. We
should get rid of the Union entirely and build a new five floor
union with everything a student wants, all campus clubs, dining
halls, movie screen, Game lounge, a TV lounge for game watch
parties. Build Pride into every aspect of the Student Union.
Something to be aware of it is that the University of
Connecticut is not a better school than Stony Brook University.
But the perception of many of our students say otherwise. We are
an AAU university, massive research, and great graduate
programs. But we lack in student life, pride/spirit. That is
enough to make students choose UConn over SBU. That is why we
need these things.
Simple steps that can build Stony Brook pride. The
administration has to build a committee that takes this
seriously.
Regarding architecture
1) Our campus should enhance the academic mall. While it may be
too late to build an open grass field on such a narrow mall we
can enhance the mall by extending the "east Plaza buildup" all
the way across to the west up to the Earth and Space Science
buildings. I don't like asphalt and it looks ugly right in the
middle of campus. Build another Fountain in the circle between
the SAC, Earth and Space in front of the Harriman Hall and
renovated Old Chem building. That should be the center of campus
2) Renovate the Zebra Path. Make it wider and even more
beautiful. Make it a source of pride for students by allowing
the students to take charge on its renovation.
3) Knock down the northern part of ESS Building which blocks
access and view to the western side of Campus (Physics, Math,
Simons center) , necessary Overhaul of Harriman Hall. eliminate
the huge parking strips and building Parking towers instead to
save space.
4) Give the campus a more centralized feel. I know this is
suburbia and the campus was build for easy car access but I hate
the parking lots right in the middle of campus. I dislike
Parking lots right behind Engineering, SAC, and Computer
Science. Eliminate them and combine them into one. Replace with
grass fields...
I got more things to add later on
#Post#: 5178--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 7, 2013, 10:23 am
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Ok this is why i suggested naming a school after you... these
are the RIGHT ideas we need to implement!!!
I do understand that we cant become an Ivy, but i think we can
borrow some aspects.
As for the architecture, no you cant tear buildings down, but,
you can reface buildings in a certain manner, and/or you can
eschew the super-modern look in new construction and go for the
traditional.
UConn, while not exactly a rival and/or peer, has some GREAT
examples. I love the athletics schedules on the tables. I love
even more the mandated Stalin-istic make everyone watch the
bball game on tv. I love that LaValle has red seatbacks and so
will the Arena, and yes EVERYTHING should be in scarlet & gray.
Also, i very much applaud the Husky-everything naming
convention. Seawolves soda. The wolf den for the locker rooms.
The canine lounge. A german/austrian restaurant called
Wolf-gangs. Canine Cafeteria. Bottles of wolfwater. Water
fountains should be wolfwells. And so on....
I agree our union needs work, but first and foremost, it needs a
powerwashing!
If they cant sell gear, GIVE IT AWAY to students. Plaster SB
logos on everything.
Hammer- thanks for your kind words.
#Post#: 5179--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ecasadoSBU Date: February 7, 2013, 10:26 am
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Yes I forgot. Uconn makes it own bottled water. are you f'cking
serious. That was amazing. there is such thing as "UCONN
WATER"... UConn Dairy barn which makes UConn Ice Cream...
Amazing stuff that builds pride. We definitely can borrow some
of these things.
#Post#: 5180--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 7, 2013, 10:29 am
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Even more great ideas, eCasa!
I like making the circle in front of the SAC the center of
campus. Put up a clocktower, something.
ESS is getting kinda rain-stained too and its ugly. I also
agree about the lots, but i figure thats an uphill battle as
professors wont want to walk far (laziness). Commuters will go
nutso about that too. Centralization is a great idea though.
#Post#: 5188--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ry1nik Date: February 7, 2013, 12:44 pm
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Binghamton (where I got grad degree) has a clock tower. Nice
effect without having to buy an entire building.
#Post#: 5189--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 7, 2013, 12:45 pm
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See? Ry1nik gets where im going with this!!! ;D
#Post#: 5190--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: ry1nik Date: February 7, 2013, 12:46 pm
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Haha, I'll tell President Stanley to "git 'er done!" over beers
tonight!
#Post#: 5191--------------------------------------------------
Re: Making SB better- Idea Thread
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 7, 2013, 12:55 pm
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Whoa direct line to the Pres!!! Wanna drop these ideas on
him??? If you havent already!!! ::)
I met Dr. Stanley recently, i got a great impression from him.
We could totally beat out this:
(HTM) http://www.youvisit.com/media/binghamtongrad/20020705_university02_ed.jpg<br
/>
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