As a student at Green River College, Chelsea Fletcher wanted a space on campus for students to gather outside of the classroom.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ten years later, her vision is a reality. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Fletcher took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mel Lindbloom Student Union on Monday at the college\u2019s main campus in Auburn. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cNearly a decade ago, I had a vision of a place where every student had a place to collaborate and connect with each other, a place that fostered a great sense of campus community and allowed learning, creativity and personal growth to really take root and thrive,\u201d Fletcher said during the ceremony. \u201cIt\u2019s here. It\u2019s today. It\u2019s now, and this is truly your space.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The 65,000-square-foot facility replaces the aging Lindbloom Student Center. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like the old building was a bit more constrictive,\u201d Fletcher said in an interview. \u201cJust the architecture of it and the capacity didn\u2019t have that kind of feel any more. This (new building) is really just taking Green River into a new era.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n After touring the new student union, Fletcher, who was chief justice for Green River\u2019s student body while attending the college, said she was impressed. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt is more than I ever imagined when sitting down a decade ago with potential builders and architects,\u201d she said. \u201cWe had about a half dozen designs. This is better than any of the designs I recall. I love that it is an open-concept building. I love that there are dedicated spaces for people to just gather and be together. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI am just incredibly impressed with all the hard work that went into this. I didn\u2019t think that it would take off, and it did. Now that it is actually here, I am incredibly proud.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Fletcher, who graduated from Green River in 2007 and lives in Tacoma, said she wishes she were still a Green River student so she could use the new facility. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt does make me want to come back and play a bigger role in the Green River community,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The $32 million facility is funded by the college and a self-imposed fee on students. Students started paying the fee of $20 per quarter in 2007, which increased to $45 quarterly. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThis truly is a building for students, built by students,\u201d said Dani Chang, Green River\u2019s dean of student life.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n ‘Making an old man feel proud’<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Mel Lindbloom, the college\u2019s first president and the student union\u2019s name sake, attended the ribbon cutting. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Lindbloom said he is honored the new building will carry on his name. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cYou folks, the Green River College community, have a way of making an old man feel proud,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n He said he was pleased by the students\u2019 willingness to help fund a new student union. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIn 1971 when we opened the student center, we finally had a place for students, student services, student activities, community activities,\u201d he said. \u201cIt served a tremendous need at the time.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The campus has changed a lot since it opened in 1965, Lindbloom said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cAs I stand here and look around the campus, it is really hard for me to believe this all happened,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had one building when we opened.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Lindbloom and Fletcher cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the new facility. Members of the Muckleshoot Canoe Family blessed the new facility. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Following the ceremony, students, staff and guests ventured inside for cake and tours of the building. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Students were eager to explore the student union. They made themselves at home, grabbing a bite to eat from Gator Grill or the Daily Grind Coffee shop. They gathered around tables and chairs, studying or talking to friends. Some played pool in the Evergreen Lounge while others shot hoops or played ping-pong in the new Recreation and Athletic Center gym. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Paper Tree Bookstore, student government and student life offices, as well as the office of diversity, equity and inclusion, have moved to the student union. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The building features a gender-inclusive restroom, which has eight stalls with full-length, locking doors and six sinks, anyone can use it regardless of gender. There are also men\u2019s and women\u2019s restrooms in the facility. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Second-year student Aiesha Morrison-Screen of SeaTac wandered around the new building on Monday. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Paying an additional fee each quarter to fund the facility doesn\u2019t bother Morrison-Screen. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt is worth it to see my money at work,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Morrison-Screen said she\u2019ll probably spend a lot of time in the student union. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI kind of like people watching,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The former student center, which is now called the Student Affairs and Success Center, will undergo two phases of renovations to become a one-stop shop for student services.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n ===<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Open for events<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Green River College\u2019s Mel Lindbloom Student Union, which opened on Monday, is available to rent for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers and other functions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The conference services and food service offices have moved to the new facility from the Lindbloom Student Center, which had been used for events.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The college hosts the fifth annual My Wedding My Way wedding fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 5, in the student union on the college\u2019s main campus, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The free event is open to the public and includes vendors, food tastings, entertainment and a man cave.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n