Renovation plans for the Old University Union underwent another revision as it has been announced that Old Union room 133 will remain open for student programming instead of the original plan of converting it into office space for the Educational Opportunity Program.

Vice President for Administration James VanVoorst said that the decision came after discussing the needs of both the student groups and EOP over a period of time.

‘This [the University Union Project] is a process where you look at different options and try different things,’ VanVoorst said of the decision, noting that meeting the needs of both EOP and the rest of campus was important in the choice.

He added that the administration plans to schedule a town hall meeting on the project sometime before the Thanksgiving break.

Although there are currently no new plans to move EOP, director James Pogue said that it is something he and his colleagues would like to happen, as the department is currently split into two locations: the main office on the second floor of the Student Wing and the Tutorial Center located on the second floor of the library.

‘It’s about additional space and bringing both of our office locations together,’ Pogue, who has worked for EOP since 2001, said of a possible move. ‘If we had moved into the Union, one of the benefits would have been the combining of both of those offices.’

According to Pogue, the number of EOP’s employees and enrolled students has remained constant since he arrived. But ‘student traffic is pretty significant during different times of the day,’ Pogue said. ‘We could use more space.’

Pogue also added that he recognized the EOP’s need to be flexible as plans for the Union project continue to evolve.

‘It’s really important that we recognize that everyone is going to have to give some,’ he said while emphasizing the importance of patience and understanding in the process.

Student Association President David Bass said he considers the decision to keep UU 133 open to students for programming needs as a great development.

‘It [133] is the perfect room for student groups to run forums and medium-size programs,’ said Bass, who has been speaking with Vice President VanVoorst about the issue since he was elected in April. ‘It really is a unique room, and in fact, it’s the most used room in the Union.’

Though Bass said that he was thrilled about the decision, he also said that he was still concerned with the amount of space that would be available during the day for student programming, as many rooms will hold classes during the day.

‘Ultimately, we will need to continue to push for meeting room availability at all times throughout the day,’ Bass said. ‘That said, what we have won is a very important victory for students.’

Renovations on the south side of the Old Union, otherwise referred to as phase one, are expected to begin shortly after commencement in May.