ModernSpace New Student Union Project Overview
Jeremy Katz, Associated Students Executive Vice President
What is ModernSpace?
ModernSpace is the name of the project initiated by Associated Students to rebuild the student union at San Diego State University. The current Aztec Center is 42 years old and grossly under serves the needs of students on campus today. It was built for a student population of about 14,000 back in the 1960s. Since then, our student population has doubled, with very little increase in the size of our student union. Additionally, the current building does not meet the engineering and accessibility standards of today. The student union is supposed to be the “living room of the campus”, but instead currently serves a small population of our students.
2006 Referendum
Seeing the need for a new and improved student union, the student body overwhelmingly approved a fee referendum in the spring of 2006. This referendum called for an increase in fees to fund the design and construction of a union that would serve as the hub of student activity on the SDSU campus.
Economic Downturn
Unfortunately, due to a decline in the economy, the fee increases will not be enough to fund a new union that will serve the needs of the students for the next 60 years. In order to finance its construction projects (such as the ARC, Aquaplex, Viejas Arena, etc.), Associated Students sells construction bonds and uses the generated student fees to pay off the interest rates over time. However, due to a fewer number of enrolled students (less fee revenue collected), and in increase in bond interest rates (due to the bad economy), the original fee increase will not be sufficient.
Plans for the Future
Associated Students plans to go back to the student body in March 2010 to ask for an additional fee increase that will not be implemented until the fall of 2013, when the new building opens. This additional fee increase is necessary in order to provide for a new Aztec Center that plans to include increased study lounge space, increased meeting rooms, a satellite fitness center, a movie theater, increased dining options, a state of the art bowling and games center, and a pub and grill restaurant.
If the referendum is not approved by the students, Associated Students will be forced to spend the initial fees collected on repairing the current Aztec Center and bringing the building up to present codes. However, no additional services will be added, and the student union will continue to grossly under serve the needs of the students today and into the future.