It’s a room with a view to even greater things for graduate student culture.

The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) invites the Brock University community to an open house on Thursday, April 28, from noon until 2 p.m. to showcase their new lounge space in Mackenzie Chown C Block (C301).

The GSA recently completed renovations to the former seminar room next to the GSA office, giving it new life as a lounge available to the approximately 1,700 graduate students at Brock.

Aidan Smyth, who completes his term as GSA president at the end of April, was very pleased to be the “closer” on the project.

“A lot of credit goes to past GSA executives who kept the conversation alive to make the case for additional space to meet the needs of graduate students at Brock,” he says. “Our hope is that this space will be used extensively for social gatherings, both formal and informal. This space has the potential to develop graduate student culture, increase the visibility of graduate students on campus, and ultimately enhance the experience and reputation of graduate studies at Brock.”

The renovations included painted walls, new floor, sink, cupboards, and new furniture.

Mike Plyley, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, agrees with Smyth about the importance of increasing designated space for graduate students.

“I know from my own graduate student experience the value that comes from having a dedicated space to go to every day,” he says. “We want to build a home base for our graduate students that’s welcoming — a place they can call their own and where they will build friendships and peer support that make a big difference in their lives as developing researchers and scholars.”