Exciting changes for Russell Union and Armstrong Student Union
If you have been to the Russell Union on the Statesboro Campus lately, you may have noticed a few changes. On the first floor, renovations were made to the Student Government Association (SGA) suite, the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement and Student Union Facilities and Event Services (SUFES). The ballroom received fresh paint and new sound and lighting systems and houses a new Selfie Station. In addition, Gus Mart features Amazon's Just Walk Out technology and the theater received new wall wraps and floor lighting. Additionally, the Williams Center was remodeled through 2023.
Outside of the SGA offices, Student Media added two 52-inch monitors to display video coverage. Behind the information desk, a new wall wrap greets visitors to the Union with the word “Welcome” in many languages.
On the second floor the Office of Student Conduct now has its own suite of offices. Additionally, Dean of Students Aileen Dowell, Ph.D., has a newly renovated space and Vice President for Student Affairs Shay Little, Ph.D., relocated her offices to the Russell Union. In an effort to create a more welcoming space for students, new canvases and wall wraps depicting student engagement have been added.
Management of the Nessmith-Lane Ballroom, Theater and the Sweetheart Circle outdoor space will now be directed by SUFES. With this change, Matthew Reynolds has moved to the SUFES office as an associate director. He serves as the project lead for the Event Management System (EMS).
Perhaps the most notable changes are coming to the first floor of the Student Union on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah. The former location of the Perk will be modified to create an information desk, outfitted with a welcoming, multilingual wall wrap. Additionally, there will be the establishment of an esports gaming area to be located in the former GUS Mart space. The Virtual Collaboration Centers will include stations for playing competitive esports as well as computers for PC gaming. Construction will begin this fall and is expected to be completed around the end of the semester.
For more information about any of these renovations, contact Bridget Eubanks, director of SUFES at beubanks@georgiasouthern.edu.
