Written by Jess Unger
SLC’s Heimbold Visual Arts Center is one of the largest buildings on campus and houses a 188-seat movie theater used for classes as well as special guest lecturers. Although aesthetically pleasing, some student artists feel the school overlooked necessary architectural functions for an art building in order for the space to be deemed green and eco-friendly by the state of New York. Another facility widely enjoyed by students is the Campbell Sports Center, which houses a full gym, basketball court, swimming pool, yoga and fencing studio, rowing tanks, and squash courts.
The absence of a student center has been a nagging issue in student life for decades. Despite renovations to improve public student spaces in Bates, the building remains underused, in part because of its location on campus, in part because of the small capacities of its spaces. However, one of the building’s main social functions is hosting dance parties in the basement, the Blue Room, or both simultaneously! If dancing isn’t your scene, the Teahaus and Slonim often offer small concerts or poetry readings. One problem that has arisen in recent years is the major lack of handicapped accessible pathways, doors, and dormitories; this, too, is being addressed through renovations. Many classrooms and public spaces have also become dilapidated—come springtime, as ice melts atop roofs, a handful of unlucky students will wind up with leaky ceilings. Still, most students agree that the rustic look of main campus is one of its charms.