PNW Debuts Multicultural and Student-Family Lounge Spaces
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) hosted two open houses recently to welcome students to new multicultural and student-family lounge spaces at the Hammond and Westville campuses.
Multicultural Lounge
A new programming and recreational space is available for students and student groups in Room 180 of the Classroom Office Building at the Hammond campus.
In 2020, PNW senior leadership made a commitment, with input from the Student Government Association, to transform the former classroom space into an inclusive lounge meant for meeting and sharing ideas from students of all backgrounds.
Student groups have free rein to use the space as they will and may schedule with the Office of Student Life to book meetings and event times.
“Our hope is that students will see it as a space for events and programming related to the idea of multiculturalism,” Colin Fewer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, says. “We’re letting students decide how to use it. To see them dream up an idea and see it come to reality is really exciting.”
The multicultural lounge at this time has an open space with both conference tables and lounge seating available, but will have future computer workstations and setups for rotating decorations.
From left, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Chancellor Thomas Keon, PNW students Luis Gamble and Aneri Patel, PNW Upward Bound administrative assistant Shanika Person, and PNW students Marisa Gorski and Micaela McCarthy perform a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the multicultural lounge.
Student-Family Lounges
Student-family lounge spaces in Room 139 of the Classroom Office Building at the Hammond campus and Room 139 in the Library-Student Faculty Building at the Westville campus premiered in late October.
The rooms are open to all students and are specially outfitted to accommodate families. The rooms give PNW students who are parents a workspace while also allowing for their children to play games or complete their own homework.
The spaces have computers for on-campus connectivity and are outfitted with many toys and play spaces for children. The rooms can accommodate kids of all ages, including cribs for infants. Students can look to these spaces as helpful resources to balance their educational mission and their roles as caregivers.
Students with questions about the spaces or resources may reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students at dos@pnw.edu.
From left, PNW student Kayla Duesing plays with Isaiah Woodson and Milani Canty during an open house at the student-family lounge in the Classroom Office Building on the Hammond campus. Duesing was one of several Human Development and Family Studies students who came to observe and interact during the open house.
Micah Williams enjoys an activity chair in the student-family lounge at the Classroom Office Building on the Hammond campus.
PNW student Amani Norwood, right, draws on a board with her daughter, Milani Canty, during an open house at the student-family lounge in the Classroom Office Building on the Hammond campus.
PNW Student Amari Norwood, left, colors with her son, Isaiah Woodson, during an open house at the student-family lounge in the Classroom Office Building on the Hammond campus.