The Northern Light

Media Credit: Kenna Bates - The Northern Light Repairs to the Main Apartment Complex will continue until after the start of the fall semester. New furniture is also scheduled for MAC housing, and new dorm communities and recreation activities are also planned. [Click to enlarge]

Students can expect to see several changes around UAA this upcoming semester in the housing and dining sectors, perhaps the most anticipated of which is the addition of a Starbucks near the library.

But UAA may have to wait longer than first thought to be graced with the presence of the prolific coffee provider.

"We're furiously working on Starbucks," said Stephen Wadsworth of Aramark. "We're probably not going to get it until January."

Wadsworth had hoped that the Starbucks would be available by the fall semester, but due to the extensive planning period, it seems that the franchise won't be ready until after Christmas break.

"Overall, it's about a 35- to 40-week process from start to finish," he said.

Wadsworth said Starbucks will be the first new brand on campus since the Student Union saw the addition of Subway, and he has faith Starbucks will fit right in on campus.

"Starbucks is the second-most recognized brand in the world and it's already very popular with college students," he said. "This will be a fully licensed Starbucks, with all the drinks you'd find at a typical Starbucks, although you probably won't find all of the merchandise there. You probably won't be able to buy a coffee machine."

The Starbucks will also feature wireless Internet to accommodate students and will create a better atmosphere in the area, he said.

"That area could use a facelift - not that it's bad now €" but it will be great to have (Starbucks) there," said Wayne Morrison, the associate director and operations manager of Housing, Dining and Conference Services. "Change is always good, but it's a lengthy process and not a simple task."

Some of the other changes that will be happening this fall in the housing sector include two major renovations to the MAC buildings: The stairwells in the MAC housing will be renovated and all the windows will be replaced.

The stairwells have already been reinforced and the actual renovations will happen around September. "This summer, the plan is undergoing an engineering review," Morrison said. "Next will be the bid process, but that hasn't happened yet."

The windows in MAC should also be replaced close to the fall semester, although both projects are expected to bleed past the move-in date for students. The new windows will be slightly tinted and improve insulation.

"There will be a great improvement in the window quality," Morrison said. "683 windows will be replaced, so it's a big project."

Other changes on campus include the replacement of mattresses in North Hall, following a similar replacement in East Hall last year. Some new furniture, such as desk chairs and bed frames, for MAC housing will also be coming in by this fall.

Barbecues and picnic tables have been installed at eight locations around residence areas for year-round use. This is designed to reduce the use of private grills by students, which administrators say can be unsafe.

Director of Housing, Dining and Conference Services Debra Lovaas said Residence Life will add four new communities in the dorms as well as four new peer advisors to accommodate the new communities. Three of the new communities, Alaska Native Psychology, Alyeska First Year, and First Year Focus, will be located in West Hall. The fourth community, Aviation, will be located in East Hall. Additionally, the fourth-floor lounge in North Hall will be used as a classroom for Guidance 150, a course designed to integrate freshmen to college life.

Lovaas and Morrison said Recreation and Activities will add another student to its staff. The Recreation and Activities budget has been expanded for the purchase of climbing and other recreational equipment. Activities so far include rock climbing, paintball and movies. Miller has also established the Alaska Wilderness Experience, a rafting trip available for up to 10 new students to introduce them to Alaska, each other and to the school's policies.

Aramark also has some other changes in the works. Aramark's Wadsworth has been working with Residence Life on a recycling program as well as partnering with Campus Kitchen to provide food to the poor.

"From talking to students, these are things I think will make an impact," Wadsworth said.

Wadsworth also hopes to have a new catering menu and Web site by the fall, as well as new discounts for students.

He expects that the discounted catering menu will provide clubs on campus a way to purchase food without going out of their way.

"We'd like to save the students from going to Sam's Club or Costco," he said. "We also want to figure out ways to bring the campus side of things together with the commuter side."

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