The Associated Students UCLA Board of Directors voted unanimously at their meeting to convert Ackerman Union’s third floor lounge into a state-of-the-art meeting room for student groups.
Bob Williams, the executive director of ASUCLA, said that last spring 211 groups participated in a lottery to reserve a meeting place in Ackerman Union or Kerckhoff Hall, and 51 of those groups were unable to find accommodations.
Before the meeting, $30,000 in ASUCLA funds had been designated to buy new furniture for the lounge. The board approved an additional $48,250 so the lounge space could be converted to a large meeting space with plasma screens and laptop tables.
Several board members said they supported the motion because the third floor has become a spot that attracts homeless people, and the construction of a new room would make it more appealing to students.
The board also voted to approve $175,000 to update its technology servers and create one centralized unit.
Williams said the new data storage management would increase capacity and efficiency.
A motion to install high-definition Digital Light Processing screens at a cost of $140,000 in the remodeled Cooperage caused disagreement among board members.
Netta Avineri, a graduate representative on the board, said the type of screens would cost more money than a liquid crystal display screen but offer clearer images and a longer shelf life.
But due to concerns over the cost of the screens, the board voted to table the motion until the next meeting.
Dave Karlik, an undergraduate representative and chairman of the board, said he thought it was a good idea to delay the decision so that discussion can continue on an issue where board members have doubts.
He added that a major upcoming event is the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the end of April, which represents an estimated $300,000 in sales for ASUCLA. This year, more of the festival will be geared toward the Kerckhoff patio, bringing the event closer to the center of campus.
ASUCLA is also making progress with its construction projects. The Cooperage remodel is nearing completion, with new lighting and carpeting going in within the next couple months. The completed Cooperage will feature a computer gaming room with an Xbox and Guitar Hero, Williams said.
In addition, the new larger post office in Ackerman Union is slated to open at some point in May. Plans for the current post office’s space are undecided.