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Is the Alumni Heritage Lounge used for the intended purpose?
When I was still new in this university, I used to conduct all my studies in the library or my apartment. When my friend introduced me to the alumni Heritage lounge, my studying life has never been any better. In 1897, the first group of students to graduate from the University of Arizona formed the pioneer alumni association. Back then, the alumni association had only 11 members and therefore did not need a lounge in their honor. The student Union Memorial Center, in which the alumni Heritage lounge is located, serves to preserve the heritage of the peoples of Arizona and give students a room to study. However, most of the students use the lounge for personal study rather than for the sentimental importance it holds.
Some students and visitors to the university visit the Alumni Heritage Lounge to honor notable alumni in the history of the university. The facility also serves as a place to relax and study for the current students. The sentimental effect of this university in the University of Arizona community is not to be overlooked. Many students (past and present) associated with this facility. It also serves as a well- known landmark for new students and faculty members. The audience for this paper is fellow students who have not had the chance to enjoy the facility. Students who do not know the history of the lounge also form the target audience.
The architectural design of the lounge’s building is set in a unique way that appeal to the young students; who mostly form a bulk of the users. To start with, the structure of the building is in the Shape of U.S.S Arizona battleship (Key Features, 3). The building has an original bell engraved with the details of the Ship. Japanese forces sunk the ship in the Pearl Harbor in 1941 killing everybody on board. The Alumni heritage lounge has the same significance as the hosting building- it commemorates important personalities in the history of the University of Arizona and the surrounding community.
When I interviewed my friends, 40% revealed that they artifacts in the lounge are what attracted them to visit the place for the first time. The idea to preserve such artifacts was invaluable. Students, especially the new ones, visit the lounge to see the artifacts that depict the university’s history. Among them, they include photos of prominent alumni and visitors, and historical events. The sight of the neat artifacts is also a remarkable sight. Some seasoned students visit the lounge for the sole purpose of taking photographs on their iPhones. The artifacts are a source of inspiration and pride to many. For instance, when new students report to campus, among the places that they receive orientation for is the Alumni Heritage Lounge. Once a freshman sees the photos of great people and events in the history of the university, they immediately develop a sense of pride. Those who had doubts regarding the status of the university finally realize that the University of Arizona is a great place to be.
Students visit the lounge to learn about the traditions of the university since it is a representation of the university traditions passed from one generation to the next. The ‘Bear down’ slogan engraved on the roof of the lounge traces its origin to a brilliant athlete who died of a spinal cord injury in 1926. Since then, the slogan has been used to motivate others especially during sports. Students visit this place to learn about the origin of terms such as the bear down slogan. In this context, the bear down slogan initiates new students to the university tradition of fighting to death. Similar to the bear down slogan, traditions function to bring people together. They also highlight the expectations placed upon every member of society. A society without tradition lacks a purpose and motivation. The traditions engraved in the Alumni Heritage Lounge maintain the cohesion of this community.
The lounge serves as an alternative place for students to study. The ambience of the room is welcoming. The lighting system is sufficient for a study session. The place is serene with the only sounds coming from people walking around the lounge and friends discussing class work in hush tones. The lounge creates the mood to study without copying the setting of the library. Studying in the lounge is rejuvenating because it eliminates the monotony associated with always studying at the library. For instance, if a student is bored while studying at the library, they can always move to the lounge and they will feel fresh again.
The new environment can extend the intended study duration by another two hours. Changing a studying environment is important in resuscitating the motivation to study more. Quite often, doing something repeatedly is quite depressing and it leads to boredom. Changing the environment once in a while is as therapeutic as reading an extremely exciting book. This makes the lounge more appealing to students.
The lounge is also somewhere people can relax and have a good time away from the stresses of life. The couches in the lounge are comfortable and clean to sit on. Once a student is tired from studying on the tables, they can retire to the couches and chat online, listen to music or just remain silent and enjoy the tranquility of the environment. For instance, when a student plans to study for six hours, there are usually unscheduled 30- minute breaks within the session. During the unwanted but necessary breaks, the student can stand from their study table and move to the relaxing couches.
While there, he can catch up with friends online, listen to music or just browse the internet. Quite often, people underestimate the therapeutic effect of resting after a long session of study. Resting helps to reduce the pressure created in the brain during the active session of comprehending new concepts and memorizing old ones.
The cultural and societal significance of the Alumni heritage Lounge is common to only a few. Some students think of it as a place for studying alone. The lounge holds the key to understanding the history of our university. The cultural artifacts and slogans found therein are an emblem of the values upon which the current society lives by. The university requires the students to learn about the history of the institution in order to create a benchmark on the expected code of conduct and performance standards for the current students. The societal significance of the space for the students is evident in many ways.
The space creates bonds between students by facilitating group study. Students walk into the lounge in groups for group discussions or studying in groups for moral support. Studying in groups is important because it gives a student the opportunity to seek clarification from their peers in the event that they encounter a concept that they cannot comprehend easily. The moral support that the students get, keeps them going especially when the temptation to stop studying creeps in.
In conclusion, the Alumni Heritage Lounge is a very important space for the community of the University of Arizona. The space houses historical artifacts in the form of photos of important events in the past and notable personalities who visited or studied at the university. The lounge is also a representation of the traditions that the university holds so dear. Currently, students use the space primarily for studying. Some study in groups while others prefer to study alone. The space also has couches for relaxing after a tedious session study. The space holds a cultural and societal significance to the community of the University of Arizona. In my opinion, the space is adequately utilized for the purpose it was built for.
Works Cited
Key Features, Student Union Memorial Center, Arizona.edu. 2016. Online. Retrieved from <https://www.union.arizona.edu/template/resources/info/SUMCKeyFeatures.pdf>