Presidents join forces to tackle pressing issues at Fireside Chat

The president of Gonzaga University and the president of the Gonzaga Student Body Association covered topics ranging from the plans for a new student center to discussions about sex on a Catholic campus on Tuesday, Nov. 15, in a Fireside Chat.

Dr. Thayne McCulloh and Tyler Hobbs answered questions from students and commented on relevant campus issues from 8 to 9:15 p.m. in Crosby. GSBA Speaker of the Senate Nolan Grady began the discussion by asking the approximately 45 students in attendance what they thought of the survey that was recently sent out to gather opinions on plans for a "University Center" to function as a new student center.

McCulloh said the University Center was important in the same way that the Foley Center Library was important when it was built during his time at Gonzaga.

"I see us needing to build a facility of such significance that it actually changes the way we think about Foley, [Crosby Student Center] and College Hall," he said.

Hobbs said  student input is important in the design of the new building.

"We have a clean slate on building this huge monument at Gonzaga University — what do we want that to look like?" he asked. He said the biggest concern was the need for more space versus the feeling of intimacy Crosby gives students, and that the thing he heard most from students was "we want it to be bigger but we want it to feel small."

Other aspects of the University Center that were discussed during the chat included the balance of study rooms versus social meeting places, the proposed location on the site of the COG as the best place for the center, and the possibility of a pub in the building.

McCulloh said more space was needed for the university to meet the needs generated by bigger class sizes.

"On the housing side, we have much more capacity than the learning side," he said, pointing to a lack of space for lab science, engineering and the music department.

"There's an inadequacy of space here on campus for students to enjoy the performances of their fellow students," McCulloh said regarding Gonzaga's music program. He said a new building for the music department was dependent on music students themselves.

"The more talented they are and the more they exhibit those talents, the more attention it's going to get from people who can help us," he said.

Another topic raised was the relationship between the administration and the student body. Hobbs said it was important for students to recognize where their student leadership is, and invited students with concerns to visit the GSBA offices on the second floor of Crosby.

"We're not looking to take the opinions of administrator XYZ and convince students of that, it's kind of the other way around," he said. "If you're looking for ways students can impact the university, I'd start [with GSBA]."

McCulloh said student voices are important on campus, and that the administration depends on the student body's input.

"I think the power of our boards is overrated," he said. "We don't exist without you and we don't have a purpose without you."

The Fireside Chat ended with a discussion of how Gonzaga's Jesuit identity impacts the student body. The subjects of sex and Gonzaga pride were brought up by attendees.

"If we're desirous of engaging in discussion then we should do it well," McCulloh said. "I think we are obligated as a Jesuit, Catholic university to bring the belief systems of the Catholic Church into the conversation, but those should not inhibit the conversation."

At the end of the chat, McCulloh and Hobbs thanked the participants for coming.

"The questions are an opportunity for me to learn what's on your minds," McCulloh said. "My heart is where I started, which is as a student."