Why MacVittie College Union is the heart of campus
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The MacVittie College Union is at the physical center of campus, and thus the metaphor of this particular building being at the heart of campus is apt—but it is about more than a location. The MacVittie College Union is where you find unity in the LGBTQ+ lounge; discuss and solve your living arrangements with Residence Life; feel supported, encouraged, and find a sense of belonging from Student Life; become a GOLD Leader through Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development; and are heard and represented by the Student Association, among much more.
According to the SUNY Geneseo website, a core value and purpose behind the MacVittie College Union is to cultivate “a sense of community, unifying the institution by embracing the diversity of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests.” Thus, the MacVittie College Union fosters a sense of community for those that inhabit it—whether it’s students, professional and student staff, faculty, visitors, clubs, organizations, or more. The MacVittie College Union develops the connections between these people by “[p]roviding gathering spaces to encourage formal and informal community interactions,” that in turn “build meaningful relationships.” The MacVittie College Union can also be viewed through the metaphor of “the living room,” as it “enhances the student experience and cultivates an enduring connection to the institution” through spaces that act as a gathering place.
The MacVittie College Union cultivates connections between the array of people who enter it, making it necessary to be incredibly versatile in the way it is able to provide services to the campus and wider community; one location becomes home to many essentials. For instance, if you have mail to pick up. Or, say, if you bank with Genesee Valley Federal Credit Union, the MacVittie College Union has a small branch and an ATM for your convenience. Your textbooks, flu medication, and college merchandise are all at the Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore in the MacVittie College Union. Your coffee from Starbucks and that last-minute printing job before class all occur in the MacVittie College Union.
Another core value of the MacVittie College Union is how it serves students. The MacVittie College Union as a whole is always “[o]perating as a student-centered organization.” The building is home to the faculty and staff that bolster “the development of students as lifelong learners by delivering an array of cultural, educational, social, and recreational programs.” All the aforementioned professional departments whose offices can be found in the MacVittie College Union are fundamental indicators of this. The MacVittie College Union is a one-stop shop for everything a student may need, whether it’s the physical essentials, or the intangible support of Student Life, Residence Life, Greek Life, the Student Association, or the LGBTQ+ office. All the faculty and staff are advocates “for inclusivity and equity, fostering respect, and affirming the identities of all individuals.”
As the physical center and metaphorical “heart of the campus community,” the MacVittie College Union is an essential part of campus for students and guests alike, and it serves a purpose in “creat[ing] a welcoming environment” for all. On any given day, and for a variety of reasons, anyone may enter the MacVittie College Union and find what they are looking for (and what they didn’t know they needed) all housed in one location.