FEBRUARY 12, 2025 • VOLUME 95 • ISSUE 16
The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929
By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor
Mount Carmel Campus set for remodel in upcoming years PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBRA LIEBOWITZ
Quinnipiac University’s Provost Debra Liebowitz and Vice President for Facilities and Capital Planning Sal Filardi presented a three-step plan to reallocate space in multiple buildings on the Mount Carmel Campus in a Feb. 4 information session. The creation of the South Quad with two new academic buildings allows classrooms, faculty office spaces, meeting and study spaces to relocate throughout buildings across campus. Between The SITE, the new academic building, and the new School of Business, there is a total of 216,000 square feet of new space on the Mount Carmel Campus. “What we have been doing is engaging in a whole process of stakeholder meetings and engagement so we can . . . test where things ought to go,” Liebowitz said at the town hall meeting. Liebowitz, Filardi and the planning team presented the re-spacing plan to faculty, staff and students both in person and online. During the presentation, Liebowitz showed blueprints of multiple buildings and outlined how each room will be used. The buildings impacted by the plan include: Clarice L. Buckman Center, Lender School of Business, Arnold Bernhard Library, College of Arts and Sciences, Carl Hansen Student Center, Echlin Center, Tator Hall and Center for Communications See REMODEL Page 3
Quinnipiac proposes new ‘common time’ to give a mid-day break to students By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor
Quinnipiac University’s Provost Debra Liebowitz announced a new “common time” for students — allowing for more university-wide events and club meetings during the weekdays starting in fall 2025 during a Feb. 4 information session. Common time was created to have a break in class schedules for students and faculty to attend events, meetings and reenergize for the rest of the day. During the town hall meeting that discussed the re-spacing plans on the Mount Carmel Campus, Liebowitz presented the plan for the university to not schedule classes between 12:30-1:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is an effort to include undergraduate classes on the North Haven Campus and graduate classes on the Mount Carmel Campus for fall 2025 — but the focus for this upcoming semester is to incorporate the common hour for the undergraduate classes. Clinical and internship hours will not be impacted by the common hour. The addition of the South Quad on the
Mount Carmel Campus and the reallocation number of late-night club meetings and of spaces on campus allows for more classes allow students to spend time with friends to occur simultaneously. This opened the op- more frequently. portunity to have a time block with no classes. “I think common time is actually a really “One of the goals that was a long-stand- good idea, because it’s so hard to have peoing goal on campus was to create a com- ple’s schedules lined up,” said Emma Talbot, a mon hour in the schedule grid in order to junior film, television and media arts major. “I facilitate campus-wide events and think it could be really helpful to have create more space,” Liebowitz a common time for everyone to said to The Chronicle. “It be available, especially for won’t make space for clubs.” every single thing, Late-night club but to create more meetings can be difspace in the ficult for the 28% grid for events, of students who meetings, commute and those kinds of live off campus. things.” “I’m a comThe plan is muter, and a lot to hold univerof club meetings sity-wide events are from 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, and to 10 p.m.,” said clubs and other Kristian Skienstudent organizadziel, a first-year tions to hold meetings health sciences major. and events on Thursdays. “So I’m driving home for This could reduce the ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA 30 minutes at 10 p.m. and I’m
tired, and I have an 8 a.m. (class) the next day. So I think that time for clubs would be beneficial.” In addition to allowing time for events, meetings and activities, common time will give students the opportunity to take advantage of the dining and recreational and wellness facilities. Although these activities will easily fit into students’ schedules, there are drawbacks with potential overcrowding. “If I’m trying to go to the gym, a lot of people would be using the gym at that time, so it would be super crowded,” said James Mitchenson, a first-year health science major. “Or if I want to go eat, the dining hall will be super crowded at that time just because everyone will be going for lunch there.” Liebowitz and her team are working to incorporate the common hour for all Mount Carmel Campus undergraduate classes for the upcoming semester, but exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the deans across Quinnipiac’s schools. Any exceptions will be brought from a dean to Liebowitz’s office.