Beacon editorial: "Save a seat for students at Sweetwater"

Written by the Beacon editorial board. Not available at berkeleybeacon.com.

Emerson has no quad, no student union and no formidable, free-for-all common space—unless you count the small and disappointing off-campus student lounge (which is really just a common room). Our meeting rooms must be reserved well before use, and even then, only for a few hours at a time. Common rooms are, for all logistical purposes, exclusive to residents in the dormitories.

Other than necessities like accreditation, faculty, residence halls and an administration, every college needs a place for students to kick back, drink a soda and rip free a belch without fear of reprobation. The closest thing to that ideal place on our campus is Sweetwater Cafe—and our college now owns it.

Emerson recently purchased 1-3 Bolyston Place from Boston nightclub and restaurant magnate Patrick Lyons for $6.5 million, acquiring Sweetwater, The Estate nightclub and adjoining office space.

This appears to be a reasonable, exciting acquisition for Emerson. The college spent $92 million to buy, remodel and furnish the Paramount Center. Buying 1-3 Boylston Place for 14 times less provides the college with much-needed campus space as Emerson rapidly expands—and for an affordable price.

However, as we have seen with the senseless placement of the Will & Grace set in the library, the college is more than capable of squandering space. We implore the college to keep the students' interest in mind when designing this new asset, devoting the lion's share of it to open use, rather than committing it to yet more dorms or office space.

The college has inked a two-year lease with the current tenants, so for the time being, we can throw back cheap, warm pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon to our hearts' content. (And thank goodness: where else would we celebrate year's end and graduation!?)

But after that, the properties' fates are up in the air, Vice President of Communications and Marketing Andrew Tiedemann said in an e-mail to The Beacon: "Emerson's senior faculty and administrators have begun to draft the College's next 10 year strategic plan. The future of the Boylston Place properties will be determined by [this] process."

Students should make themselves heard during this critical period. SGA should not look backward and protest what some have reflexively deemed an outrageous purchase. Instead, our student leaders must fashion a channel of communication with the administration to ensure that students' needs are heard. And they must do it in the next few weeks. Time is surely of the essence. Who knows what could be done without our input?

The college should preserve the ground floor of Sweetwater as is. It's no secret that college students enjoy a libation or four, and if Emerson is serious about creating community, Sweetwater already is the de facto linchpin for students and professors to grab a beer and talk turkey. If its musty atmosphere and homey decor are preserved, the college could see a return of the "institutional heart and soul" that many said was lost since the sale of the beloved Back Bay buildings.

It would also give students a sense of security and pride. We know that no one will steal our stuff, that we won't get overcharged and that no one will randomly punch us in the face. Our campus-side watering hole thankfully exempts us from the pitfalls of Boston bar roulette.

The basement of Sweetwater, meanwhile, is a natural performance space. Removing the bar and converting it into a 17+ venue would give students a great place to perform music, give their stand-up act, stage an improv show or engage in any number of artistic pursuits. Northeastern University, Berklee School of Music and MIT have such spaces, just to name a few. It would be a great fit for talented, hyper-creative Emersonians, and everyone knows that booking the Cabaret or Multipurpose Room is a headache and a half.

As for rest the space, the administration should heed the students and see what concerns stick out. But the college should devote a large chunk of it to a large, well-equipped student union. Along with the customary couches and pool tables, the college should ensure a strong WiFi connection and include a place to get yummy snacks, as well as some other things cooler students than comprise The Beacon's editorial board can suggest. A community Snuggie bin, perhaps?

Think about it and speak your mind. Your money is building this campus. Make it yours.