Roberts renovations Ultimate f risbee team keeps its eyes on the prize Where have all the slated for this summer White Mules gone? ¦ • ' ¦ .1 ¦:. ' By BRAD KASNET By CHRISTIAN RESSEGUIE NEWS EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER Although it comes 10 years after For decades, Colby has been repre- Colby began a major overhaul to its sented on the fields of play by its ven- campus, Roberts Dining Hall and the erable and unique mascot, the White residence halls of Roberts Row Mule. In recent years, though, there remain the last buildings to be reno- has clearly been a shift in favor in vated on campus. College publications, choosing That is about to change. Beginning instead to refer to ourselves as simply in June 2005, Roberts is scheduled to the Mules. receive a facelift. The finalized Officially, our mascot is still the architectural design plans for the new White Mule, but one could certainly Roberts are nearly completed. be forgiven for thinking that we are According to Director of Dining now just the Mules. One would be Services Varun Avasthi, the new hard pressed to find any reference to Bobs "will have a grand feel to it— the White Mules coming from the like Foss." College. The athletics department Renovated Roberts will feature one website refers only to the Mules in newly enlarged dining hall. According press releases and team pages. A look to both Avasthi and Senior Associate through any recent edition of Colby Dean of Students Paul Johnston, this Magazine would find Colby's teams area will be naturally lit with; large called just the Mules as well. Even '¦ ¦windows, graced with high ceilings . TESSERA HOBBS/THE COLBY ECHO Steve Luke' '06 tosses a /risbee ' at the Colby ' ultimate frisbee team s' "Spank That Ass " tournament. Read the story on page 9. and expanded to include ah ornamen- Continued on Page 2 tal hearth and a glass-fronted private dining area. The space that is current- Platform," a cooking station that will express concern that the early after- ly the second dining area will become serve a different type of ethnic food noon lunch 'rush hour' will be too the new college bakery. Students will every two to three ¦weeks. much for these two dining halls to Cotter Un ion undergoes review be able to see inside the bakery and Finally, Colby architects plan to handle. Consequently, later this year Senior Associate Dean of Students to be or be seen, though. We really personally examine turn the large pit in Dining Services will embark upon a By KATIE HAMM Paul Johnston, Katie Slemp '05, Tim want a space people are drawn to and EDITOR IN CHIEF the creation of the front of Roberts public relations campaign to, in effect, Williams '08 and Erendira Munoz will spend time at. It met a need that pastries that are Bobs has its into a "Light Court" ask students to stretch out their eating '07. The review group had one meet- we had 20 years ago, but it's time for found in the dining that will enclose a patterns. Whether or not the students A review group of students and ing on Sept. 23 and will have another a fresh look. It's served us well and halls. They will also own ambiance refurbished Office respond positively to such a campaign administrators is examining the possi- one in the next two weeks. now we're looking for it to serve a dif- be able to see inside and flavor, but of Dining Services. remains to be seen. bility of expanding Cotter Union. "My impression is that the ideas ferent purpose." the dining hall The court will fea- The renovation of Roberts Dining The Board of Trustees will discuss and plans were well received," Feely "It's more an object of landscape before entering— the renovation ture a skylight to Hall will cost the College anywhere the possibility of expanding Cotter said of the meeting. "There were more than it is a place to be," Feely said. "We enabling them to will make for a provide students between $2.5 and $4 million. This fi g- while at the College on the weekend of questions than comments, but the gen- want it to be more of a place where stu- secure friends and and faculty inside ure will only be truly determined Oct. 23, Vice eral consensus is dents will want to be hanging out." dining partners brighter, nicer with a glimpse of when the school decides upon a gen- President for Student that we're on the "I'm very excited about what I've before using their feel. the outside. eral contracting agency to carry out Affairs and Dean of It's served us right track." seen in discussion groups," Wharton meal credits. The construction the construction. Students Janice The feasibility said. "It gives much more attention and Additionally, the Paul Johnston will take a consid- "We are really excited about what Kassman said. well and now studies have also purpose to student activities. I'm very food service area Sr. Associate Dean of Students erable amount of this project will be when it's done. Feasibility stud- we're looking been shown to the impressed at the caliber of which stu- will be centralized. time. Johnston esti- Bobs has its own ambiance and flavor, ies have been devel- College Affairs dents were held to and that Colby does The current mates that the reno- but the renovation will make for a oped in regards to for it to serve a Committee and will put an emphasis on students' wants." women's bathroom and the walls that vation will close Bobs from June 2005 brighter, nicer feel in that room...with the expansion of different pur- be shown to hall "I'm ecstatic about the plans. surround it will be demolished to to February 2O06. According ly, better traffic through the serving area, Cotter. "Cotter staff and Presidents' Everyone in the group was really pos- make way for a marketplace-style Sodexho will move Roberts staff to reducing lines, and giving the staff a Union is in form a pose. Council in advance itive about it," Slemp said. "If it's not serving environment. This area will Dana and Foss and open Foss for more efficient space in which to very unusual build- of the Trustees meet- already a priority, it should be. The feature an "Ultimate Trader extended hours. A-vasthi did , however, work," Johnston said. ing and what we Janice Kassman ing, Kassman said. fact that we don 't have a whole stu- needed to do first is Vice President for Student Affairs The prospect of dent union has always been a concern and Dean of Students determine what expanding Cotter since I've been here." could be done with a derives directly Wharton noted that students might Students react to Pub prices building like that," from student con- think of the Cotter Union expansion as said Supervisor of Special Projects cerns and observations about Cotter, more of a priority as compared to other Joe Feely. "It demonstrated that we student responses to the social life sur- construction occurring throughout By BRAD KASNET cheapest beverage on tap was Miller Representatives Lederman and Katie can very much work with it, " The fea- vey administered two years ago and as campus because it directly impacts NEWS EDITOR Lite at $1.75. "Students were wonder- Gagne '05 and as a result, PBR has sibility studies were designed by part of the Strategic Plan, Kassman their lives, but she emphasized that ing why there was such an extreme returned to the Pub and is available for Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the same said. "This didn 't just spring up over students should be elated by the con- In response lo student input increase in prices while nothing on (he $1.50. Additionall y^ dollar drafts will firm that designed the Diamond the summer," she said. struction happening elsewhere on opposed to increases in the price of face of the Pub had changed," Senior be available on senior nights. "We all Building. "It 's a 2,0 year old facility. When it campus because it will affect them too. beer at the Marchesc Blue Light Pub Class Representative Jell* Leclcrman wish it could be a dollar but it can't," A Cotter Union Review Group has was built , 'it was "built with a specific No decisions about the expansion this year, Dining Services has lowered '05 said. Ledemian said. "We worked out a sit- been formed to discuss the feasibility purpose in mind, as a function space of Cotter Union will be made until it prices slightly and will ofTer more dis- According to Director of Dining uation where we can hold a semblance studies and other aspects of the possi- for social life," Kassman said. "Page is discussed by the Board of Trustees counts at special events throug hout Services Varun Avasthi, last year's of that." ble expansion. The group consists of Commons Room has been very suc- in October. the year. , prices that many students became used "I'm happy that at least they 're lis- students, faculty and administrators cessfu l as a multi-purpose room. "They can determine if this is ben- Last year, Pabst Blue Ribbon was to were an anomaly. "Two years ago tening to us and willing to work with and includes Kassman, Feely, Director Colter has not succeeded in being a the most modestly priced drink , avail- we never had a dollar draft ," Avasthi us," Raser said. "I' m not sure it 's com- of Student Activities Kelly Wharton , community gathering spot or a place able at the Pub for $1.