The furniture and gaming equipment from the Student Life Center’s former recreation room now resides in Coquina Club. The club will officially reopen on Oct. 19.
Coquina Club, previously a campus late-night haven, has been vacant since the lounge closed in spring 2014. The room is scattered haphazardly with furniture and equipment from the Student Life Center’s former recreation room
But Coquina Club is making a comeback.
This semester, the club has been open periodically and used to hold events, but will officially reopen on Oct. 19.
However, the new hours will be significantly cut. Previously, the club was open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The new hours: 11 a.m to 7 p.m. on weekdays and closed on weekends.
Junior Denzel Johnson-Green, 20, remembered when he frequented Coquina in 2013 to eat, relax, play pool, Foosball or pingpong. The club housed food vendors such as Chick-fil-A and World of Wings.
“It would be open late at night, so when the Reef was closed, I would grab a bite there,” Johnson-Green said. “Now, there isn’t anyone going in there. They need to bring back the student atmosphere.”
The club closed for various reasons including financial difficulties with vendors and low student attendance.
“It has been open, it just hasn’t been used as the space we wanted,” said Matthew Morrin, director of student life and engagement.
Since the club closed, its future usage has been an ongoing topic of discussion. Those involved include Jim Grant, construction project manager; Joseph Trubacz, regional vice chancellor for administrative and financial services; Zachary Opphenheim, campus recreation assistant director; and student body President Jozef Gherman.
“There is no official plan at this point, but we are moving forward with discussion for a long-term plan,” said Morrin.
Morrin plans to use the Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CITF) for renovations, which are student fees that support non-academic programs. Some plans include adding a new electrical system, gaming equipment and furniture as well as removing the kitchen equipment to use the area as additional space for students.
Student Government is taking charge of planning, according to Morrin. Gherman said that he is following the format of the Coquina Club Task Force, which was initiated last year by former SG president Cody Boyer to gather ideas from students for the lounge.
“Since the project is to fulfill student needs, we need to hear student voices,” said Gherman. “This cannot be done by Student Government alone.”
Vending machines offering sandwiches and drinks will be added during the week of Oct. 19.
“We want to make this the destination point for students,” said Morrin.
Information:
The Coquina club is located at Coquina Hall Room 102 near the pool.
Hours are Mon-Thurs 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sat-Sun 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On Oct. 19, the hours will be Mon-Fri 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If interested in joining the Coquina Club Task Force, or have any ideas for the space, contact Jozef Gherman at jozef@mail.usf.edu.
