For several days in mid-September, newspaper covered the windows to the game room in The Underground, the doors were locked and what lay inside was shrouded in secrecy until a Friday afternoon reveal party heralded by explosions of colored confetti.
The Underground is the venerable games and recreation area in the ground floor of Pyle Student Center. Years ago, it housed ellipticals, stationary bicycles and other fitness equipment that eventually moved across campus to the Quaker Recreation Center (QRC). In recent times, it featured little more than ping pong and pool tables and several pieces of furniture. But the Student Government Assn., Quaker Activities Council and other campus entities had another vision that was realized in September.
The popularity of eSports facilitated the purchase of 10 computer gaming consoles, while nostalgia for arcade games elicited several of those classics, including NFL and Golden Tee. Air hockey, an elaborate table and chairs set for card games, a snack bar, renovated and new billiard tables, an extensive lounge area and a pair of 100-inch TVs turned the space into a recreational spa serving students each night of the week.
Student Government President Levi Hartschuh said renovating the Underground had been discussed for some time and this year was determined to be the opportune time for the vision to meet reality. “Student Government wanted to create a space on campus for all students to meet, interact and hang out without the presence of an ‘academic space,’” he said., noting the Game Room coming to fruition involved organizations from across the campus. Including Student Affairs, Physical Plant, Information Technology (IT), Quaker Activities Council (QAC), WC Billiards Club and Esports Club.
Hartschuh noted the plan was more than purchasing new equipment and furnishings and creating an inviting atmosphere. It also involved the facility’s management and maintenance through the use of student workers. “This allows the space to be staffed during the full hours of operation throughout the school year,” he added. The SGA president said the Student Government felt this was a great use for programming funds as something all students on campus could use and enjoy
Open for only a few weeks, its use is already exceeding expectations. “Our vision allowed us to see the room being occupied with 10 to 20 students hourly, but what we have seen is the room being occupied with 20 to 40 students hourly,” he said.
“The feeling is amazing, not only as an accomplishment for Student Government to truly recreate an environment on campus that is now energetic and inviting to all students but also to see that our vision was 100 percent completed,” Hartschuh said. “The success of the vision is partially due to the ‘newness’ of the space, but also, as a whole, Student Government has seen a rise in campus engagement which has allowed the space to continuously thrive since the grand reveal.”