Rylan Howe

Adrian Norris, Wichita freshman, ponders his next shot during a game of pool Friday afternoon. The pool table was one of many new additions to Oliver Hall’s first floor lobby. A new food service area, dining area, and new televisions were also added during the renovation. “They just put in the pool table and it’s way better than the one before,” Norris said.

To McKenzie Tyrrell, walking into Oliver Hall feels a lot different this semester.

The first floor of the residence hall went through renovations last June before its opening at the beginning of the semester. Open space, the Academic Resource Center and cubicles occupied the first floor before renovations, said Ken Stoner, director of Student Housing.

This semester, four televisions, including one big screen television, about 20 tables and 35 chairs, a pool table and a mini food court occupy the new O-Zone of Oliver Hall.

“I’ve eaten here about two times a day,” Tyrrell, Boulder, Colo. freshman, said. “The food is much better out here than in the cafeteria.”

Stoner said the total project cost was $650,000, with the money coming out of student room and board fees.

Before renovations, the empty space measured 63 feet wide and 80 feet deep. The renovated space extends seven to 10 feet into the cafeteria, Stoner said.

Summit Subs and Hot Stuff Pizza make up the mini food court outside the cafeteria. They are open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., from 11 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Ashley Sornsen, Ames, Iowa, freshman, said the new food services saved her money this semester.

“During the day, it counts as part of our meal plan, so I don’t have to have any money on me,” Sornsen said. “We always went out to eat first semester.”

Nona Golledge, associate director for KU residential dining services, said students could use their meal plans at Summit Subs and Hot Stuff Pizza until 2 p.m.

Lindsee Acton, Oliver Hall secretary, said the new space made it easier to have hall government meetings.

Acton, Kansas City, Kan., freshman, said about 55 people were involved with hall government at the beginning of the year. She said hall government was forced to have meetings in the basement of the residence hall, which led to the attendance to drop to a maximum of 15 members.

Acton said there are about 25 to 30 students attending meetings this semester. She said with the opening of the O-Zone, the government was starting to increase membership again.

“Now that we can hold our hall government meetings in the lobby, it’s a great place to express to someone the ideals of hall government and present programming,” Acton said.

The renovated lobby also has a computer lab and a KU Writing Center, which serves as a conference room.

Golledge said the first floor renovation was part of a Student Housing renovation plan, which renovated Ellsworth Hall in 2003. Hashinger Hall will start renovations in May and will not open until the fall of 2006.

Kip Grosshans, associate director for housing office administration, said last week that GSP Hall would likely be the next residence hall renovated after Hashinger.

Golledge said the social feeling that the O-Zone provided would attract many students, especially during March madness.

“Our hope is to also have the KU basketball games on the big screen later on down the road,” she said.