Simpsonian

The basement of Worthhouse is the future location for an International Cafe' [Click to enlarge]

Plans are in place to turn Worth House into an international and global center where students would be comfortable gathering. Recently, the Foreign Language Department, together with Student Development, proposed converting the basement of Worth House into an international cafe. The project has now become a reality and plans are in the early stages for the cafe.

"Our intention is to provide a place on campus for a focus on global awareness and international issues," said Patricia Calkins, associate professor of German and chair of the Department of Foreign Languages.

According to Calkins, the idea for the cafe took shape at the Department of Foreign Languages' retreat in September. The department had received a grant for the foreign language lab, along with private donations.

"Eve Goodhue [part-time instructor of French] gave a generous sum for a language lab, which was really great, but we wanted to do something more inspiring with it," Calkins said.

The department approached the Goodhuts and pitched the idea of using the money they had generously contributed to the language lab for an international caf� instead. Both Goodhue and her husband, Darrell, a member of the board of trustees, were happy to agree, and the project soon became reality.

The cafe is still in the initial planning stages but is coming along. Mark Bates, associate professor of Spanish, held a meeting about the cafe with Student Development and notes there is now a diagram of the prospective space. The two groups are talking about how to change the physical space and are figuring out how much money they have to spend on the project.

"The general goal is to finish at the end of the 2007-2008 academic year," Bates said.

Stephanie Krauth, associate dean of students, said they are drawing up the initial floor plans, figuring out how to best utilize the space. The projected plan as of now is to get some of the cafe up and running over Christmas break.

"We're drawing up designs, wiring and basic floor plans," Krauth said. "We're brainstorming right now and finding out what's possible and in our timeline."

Calkins said in the future, the Foreign Language Department and Student Development would like to involve the Lilly Initiative, which is spearheading the focus on global awareness, along with student input when plans become more concrete.

"We want to have a place where students of different cultures could meet in a pleasant atmosphere, and also to give our own foreign language students a taste of what a cafe setting is like in other cultures," Calkins said.

The cafe will have the feel of a coffee house, and will serve as a resource center and meeting place for students, student groups and faculty.

"The idea is to create a space for cultural and international students where they could gather and talk," Bates said.

Worth House currently serves as a residence hall and center for international students. Worth House is trying to increase global awareness among the Simpson campus. It now has language tables for the foreign languages and also serves as a place for club meetings, as well as housing the foreign language assistants.

"The goal is to make a fun, enticing social area that still encompasses the theme of international, global awareness," Krauth said.

Article Tools