Sisy Sannoh / The SWC Sun
Lovely work in progress—ASO President Gian Marco Zuno, Student Trustee Mercedes Robles, Trustee Kris Galicia Brown, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann.
By Athena Cruz & Ines Cervantes
Like magical tofu, the new Student Union building appealed to the diverse tastes of an array of students and staff gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the $100 million building.
Nearly 200 gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony under a relentless sun and it seemed they had 200 ideas about what they liked about the hulking, two-story edifice in the center of campus. ASO President Gian Marco Zuno said students will transform the structure into “a living building — shaped as we speak — that will change as we change.”
Zuno said it felt “surreal” to finally have the new center of student activity that took nearly five years to complete.
“This is our building,” he said. “(The ASO) invites you to own this place.”
Don Dumas, president of the college governing board, was effusive.
“This student union is more than just an amazing building,” he said, “it serves as a commitment to our students, our community and our environment.”
Like Christmas on a scorching late summer day, the building was an early present to the community, complete with a festive red ribbon and bow. Shade was at a premium but the blazing noontime sun could not drive away the spectators. It was as though the building was already exerting the aura of a gathering place.
Josh Whitehead / The SWC Sun
There are certainly many new attractions, including a café, a small airport-style snack store, social areas and study nooks. After years of being pushed apart and hidden by construction, students were once again coming together in the center of campus. College President Dr. Mark Sanchez said the project was funded by Proposition Z, a $400 million bond approved by voters in 2016. Taxpayer’s agreed to invest in students, a culinary arts program, veterans and a new health and wellness center. The second-story culinary arts programs will make some of the fresh food sold in the ground floor cafeteria, he said.
Student Trustee Mercedes Roblez acknowledged the indigenous people that once lived on the land and predicted that the Student Union would be an “active garden” to benefit members of the community.
A smiling student offered her approval.
“It’s like being at a real college,” she said. “Now this feels like a real college. Every college should have a building like this where students can hang out.”
Zuno said the work is not done. ASO leaders welcome feedback about the building, he said, so that it “will meet your needs and wants.”
The inside had the feeling of a new house on move-in day. There was new furniture, blank walls, some still-empty spaces and unwrit potential. Zuno said the best is yet to come.
“It remains a lovely work in progress.”
Andrea Aladin, Luz Marie Clayton, Carla Labto, Valeryah Lara-Urrea, Natalia Rivera Banuet and Dominick Sinsabaugh contributed to this story.
