By: Erica Lampert ~Staff Writer~

Yes, the rumors are true. The Gallagher Student Center (GSC) bookstore space is transforming into a student space to fulfill more Xavier students’ needs. Assistant vice president for auxiliary services Jude Kiah has been working closely with the GSC bookstore and others to create a plan for creating this new space.

“We want the Gallagher Student Center to be a vibrant place, a gathering place for students. We want students to want to use it, and designing the space inside the building is important to that goal,” Kiah said. Talks about the creation of the new space started after the bookstore began to move to the All For One Shop at University Station. The planning committee is currently deciding what the various spaces should be used for and trying to find the right mix of amenities to fit the students’ needs.

“The space will be a mix of certain things. It’ll be a mix of programming, retail, operations, some offices and common spaces. Coming to the right mix is really the key here,” Kiah said. “We get one bite of this apple, and making sure the mix is correct is very important.” The committee is also trying to assess and reevaluate available spaces. They are actively meeting to finalize the steps of budget, construction and action.

“There are a number of spaces in the building (GSC) that are up for grabs. That conversation will probably take place within the next one or two weeks. We are still trying to figure out through the entire building what spaces are what,” Kiah said. Expectations have to stay within the budget, but Kiah said the committee hopes to make changes that address what Xavier students want and need.

“I’m excited about this opportunity. We want it to fit students’ needs, and we want it to drive traffic into the building. It is a beautiful building, and I personally want to see it used, and I want students to have it as a destination space on our campus,” Kiah said.

“We are taking this very seriously. We absolutely want the project to be a success, to meet student needs and to continue to make Gallagher Student Center a destination space on campus,” he said.