TSG discusses new library

Temple Student Government hosted committee meetings at its general assembly meeting Monday afternoon in the Student Center.

The Student Affairs committee discussed the new library that will be opening in Fall 2018. For this project, Barton and Beury halls will be deconstructed, beginning with Beury this summer.  Barton Hall will become the new library and Beury Hall will become green space as an extension of Beury Beach.

Classes located in Barton and Beury halls are relocating to the new SERC building.

Sally Abbas, committee director for student affairs, asked students at the meeting for potential ideas or improvements for the new library. Students made suggestions that included having a “quiet zone,” investing in inviting decor and cozy furniture, having more printers and electrical outlets for laptops, opening a cafe in the building and having 24-hour availability.

Abbas said the Paley Library building will still be used, but instead of being a library, it may become additional classroom space.

Erika Firestone, director of grounds and sustainability, outlined the upcoming activities for Campus Sustainability Week, which is this week. Upcoming events include a presentation by Community Energy, the company that installed solar panels at the Edberg-Olson practice facility.

The Student Organization of the Week was Her Campus Temple, which ran an all-male pageant for the title of “Mr. Temple.”

A preliminary version of the TUnity Statement, which is about diversity and inclusion of all students regardless of their characteristics, has been on TSG’s website for about two weeks, Jalen Blot, director of campus life and diversity, said.  Blot said this Friday he will conduct a final review of the statement before its launch event on Oct. 28.

Another upcoming TSG event is the “Adopt-a-Block” Day this Saturday.

Lian Parsons can be reached at lian.parsons@temple.edu or on Twitter @Lian_Parsons.