A Holmes Student Center space study committee assigned the student center director to review available space after Student Association members presented a resolution against an addition without a “professional evaluation” of the building.

The Student Services and Activities Space Study Committee held their final meeting on March 10, and decided that HSC Director Judd Baker will determine whether a $6.25 million addition for more student organizational office space is necessary. The review will be completed in early May.

Space committee co-chairman Jon Dalton, who also is NIU vice president for student affairs, said the committee endorses the student center addition proposal but only will hire a building consultant if Baker determines there is not enough office space available in the center.

SA Senator Tom Link said the $12.60-per-semester student fee for full-time students needed to partially fund an addition is too much for students to pay in addition to current student fees.

“In reality (the possible student fee) would end up costing at least twice as much” as the projected amount, Link said.

Undergraduate Art Director Gordon Dorn, who also is a committee member, said students would benefit from a student fee for an addition if organizations such as Career Planning and Placement Center and Counseling and Student Development could expand their services. Both offices are located in Swen Parson Hall and have requested student center space because of overcrowded office space.

“The payout (possible student fee) is well worth the services. The SA really needs to look at whether these services are going to be valuable to the students,” Dorn said.

“Before you go and spend money for people, you have to make sure they want it spent,” said SA Senate Speaker Phill Buoscio. “A lot of people feel (the student center addition proposal) is being shoved down their throats and it’s going too fast,” he said.

Dalton said he developed the committee with co-chairman and SA President Paula Radtke to ensure adequate representation of students, faculty and staff on the committee.

Baker said if an outside consultant is hired to analyze the student center space before it is determined whether an addition is needed, the consultant would cost up to $50,000.

William Herrmann, committee member and bond revenue operations director, said funds needed to pay an outside consultant would come from bond revenue or student center revenue.

SA representatives at the committee meeting agreed with the decision to have Baker review the available space in the student center before hiring a building consultant.

SA Senator Joe Annunzio said student organizations should submit space requests to the SA to promote communication between Baker and the SA. He said the SA will relay the requests to Baker so he can accurately analyze how much office space is needed in the student center.

The student organization space requests will be given to Baker by April 20.