U Magazine, Spring 1987

The northwest patio offers sunshine and beautiful views ofMission Bay and Tecolote Canyon.

We recently had a da nce in the Forum that attracted 5- 600 students," Trifiletti says. "That was the first time in about a decade we·ve been a ble to h ave an indoor dan ce. " Besides dances , the Forum can h a ndle events ranging from guest speakers to theater in the round. "Now we have the rooms to put on real sharp-looking programs ,.. adds Pearson. "We h ave professional lighting and staging in the Forum. That gives students more time– to manage their even ts instea d of building stages or arranging lights. " The Center hosts nightclub-type events every other Tuesday night. A coffeehouse series of entertainers is in the works. Student organizations are housed in a large area on the Center's lower level. There is space for graduate as well as undergraduate students. "It's a central place for student groups to meet and exchange ideas," Pearson says. Students interested in community service drop by Judy Rauner's office on the upper level. Director of volunteer resources, Rauner matches the needs of community organizations with the interests of students. The building's Outdoor Adventures and Bike Shop rep– resents a major commitment to the outdoors by student affairs administrators. Outdoor Adventures staff plan group skiing, back packing, camping, bicycling and rock-climbing trips throughout the year to such destinations as Temecula, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and Palm Springs. In addi– tion, backpacks , sleeping bags , stoves, tents and other outdoor equipment can be rented from the shop. For a modest fee, the shop services and repairs bicyles. "All of our activities are centered around developing leadership in students," explains Mike Ruthenberg, direc– tor of Outdoor Adventures. "They learn by doing." Ruthenberg, who directed recreation activities at San Diego State University and the Beverly Hills Parks and Rec– reation Department before coming to USO, firmly believes in the value of an outdoor education. "We have fun on our trips. But we also want the kids to learn some wilderness ethics and develop a respect for nature." In the months ahead, students will discover more of the

possibilities the Center offers, administrators agree. They'll find it's a place for personal development, enter– tainment, dining.. . and more . "The University Center is not just a building, but also a program," says Pearson. "It's a place for students to have fun, to learn something; a place where someone can dis– cover the opportunity to belong." Whi ch is just what Tom Burke a nd Sr. Furay intended a dozen years ago. • John Nun es, directorof USD 's News Bureau , also con– tributed to this article.

Melissa Crenshaw and afriend enjoy the east patio.

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