Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Greenleaf Ammenities in the American River Courtyard residence hall are still unfinished and unavailable to students. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Ryan Greenleaf The computer lab remains unfinished for students who live in the American River Courtyard residence hall. [Click to enlarge]

Contrary to students' expectations, three American River Courtyard amenities are still not completed halfway through the semester.

Housing and Residential Life Director Michael Speros said there is not a set date for the Courtyard Market, printer lab and health center to be operational. However, these are expected to be open this month.

Most student residents thought the amenities would be available earlier this semester.

"I was actually hoping that they would be already open when I started living here," said Kimberly Noble, junior nursing major.

Junior photography major Ross Cobb said he thought the amenities would be open at least a month after the Courtyard opened.

"If you're opening a new building, you expect all the facilities to be available," said Jazmin Maldonado, sophomore sociology major.

Maldonado said she was hired last semester to work at the Courtyard Market, but because it is not open yet, she is working at the Dining Commons.

"There might have been some comments, anticipation or hope that we would open up earlier," Speros said. "But we didn't have hard and fast deadline that we would be opening simply because we knew that anytime we open a new building, there are little things that need to be worked out with the contractor."

Speros said Housing and Residential Life, University Enterprises Inc. and the Student Health Center have been "moving along in each of those projects."

The Courtyard Market, which would be a convenience store, printer lab and health center, are already furnished. However, products and menu boards for the market and equipment for the printer lab are still to be delivered. Furniture for the health center was delivered Oct. 27, Speros said.

UEI Marketing Director Celexsy Adame said the Courtyard Market will be open in late November; UEI will run the store.

"Menu boards are currently in production, and we will put products in the store once the menu boards are installed just before opening," Adame said.

Speros said the health inspector has approved the store in mid-October, and the printer lab is already open for students to use. Computers, however, have been delayed.

"Actually now, students can bring their laptops if they're wireless, and they can use the printers," he said. "We thought that they would be in by now, but we're working with the vendor to try and get them in."

Speros said the supplier for the computers indicated an earlier date to deliver the equipment and they don't know what caused the delay.

The health center, which will provide services from the Student Health Center, Health and Wellness Promotion and Academic Advising, will be open in early November, Speros said.

"We've had multiple meetings about the space and how to utilize it, and we feel like it's coming together pretty well," Speros said.

Speros said the Courtyard Market, printer lab and health center are all parts of the regular fees, and there were no additional fees for the amenities. Since the amenities will offer services that are generally provided elsewhere on campus, students are "not paying for something they're not getting."

While some students are disappointed, others said they understand why the amenities are still not open.

"I know they just finished this building, so it's kind of understandable but a little annoying," said Carrie Ehlers, sophomore interior design major.

Ehlers said she is looking forward for the amenities to finally be open.

Speros said the printer lab will be open to student residents. The health center will be open to all students and the Courtyard Market will be open to students, faculty and staff.

Kristine Guerra can be reached at kguerra@statehornet.com.

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