At this week’s SGA meeting, President Daniel Papp paid the council a visit.
He thanked the student government for its contributions to the new football department developments before informing those in attendance that he is working on improving the heavy traffic that accumulates around KSU by having an overpass built that would reach Interstate 75 by the East Parking Deck.
“Two years from now, traffic jams [surrounding KSU] ought to be gone for good,” Papp assured the audience.
Papp then provided updates about when students should expect the construction projects to be completed.
“The Zuckerman Art Museum will be open in October,” Papp said.
As for the new addition to the Bagwell College of Education, which is being built near Kennesaw Hall, Papp said that it will “hopefully be done in Fall 2014.”
Randy Shelton, executive director of Auxiliary Services and Programs, added to Papp’s news of construction projects by revealing plans to upgrade the Student Center.
Shelton, who called the older portion of the Student Center “outdated and insufficient,” said the building’s east, entrance which faces The Green, as well as its west entrance will be remodeled.
He said that an outdoor grill will be constructed in addition to two large multi-purpose rooms and a sushi café where the CyberNest used to be.
With the increase in KSU enrollment, Shelton insisted “we’ve got to have a much larger bookstore.”
Shelton then announced plans to open a bookstore at Town Center Mall.
Shelton said the bookstore would provide general books, KSU apparel, electronics and textbooks. Students will also be able to receive the same assistance that the Card Services department on campus provides.
The bookstore on campus will remain, but it will be mostly geared toward academics.
Shelton added that a one- card system will also take place in the near future.
“Students will only need to use one card for everything,” Shelton said, “which includes (but is not limited to) culinary services, the bookstore, parking, and housing access.”
A member of the student council questioned Shelton about whether funding for these projects would come from an increase in student tuition.
“All of this is coming from the existing fee structure that is in place,” Shelton responded. “This project will take several phases.”
Construction on the entrances, outdoor grill, and interior improvements are expected to begin between May and August of this year. The bookstore, multipurpose rooms and new staircases will be completed by Summer 2014.
