Winona campus undergoes some changes

By Kacey Carlson
Cardinal Staff

The final renovations are complete on Vlazny Hall, along with several other renovations around Saint Mary’s campus.

This year, Vlazny is the new home for Residence Life, Campus Ministry, and the Wellness Center, which were all previously located in the basement of the Toner Student Center.

Previously, Vlazny was a dorm for freshmen women before it closed last school year for remodeling.

Residence Life encourages students to stop by whenever they’d like, whether it be for assistance in the residence halls or just to say hello. The newly renovated lounge in Vlazny is a public space open for all to use. The couches and tables are great for relaxing between classes or working on group projects.

All artwork hanging in the hallways and the lounge was selected by President Brother William himself. Each one depicts an influential individual, including Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

The relocation of offices to Vlazny has left some extra space in the basement of the Toner Student Center. Now the Office of Campus Ministry is located in the old Student Activities Committee (SAC) office. The Wellness Center and SAC’s old locations are in the process of becoming student conference rooms. The old Residence Life offices have been turned into small group study rooms similar to the ones found in the Fitzgerald library and now open for use.

More renovations occurred this summer in the basement of Saint Mary’s Hall. The Student Success Center (SSC) expanded their offices, and now has receptionist to greet and help direct people to resources. New quiet testing rooms and tutoring rooms are also available. The Writing Center has joined forces with the SSC and is now called the Writing Studio. Students are encouraged to stop by and make an appointment.

The final changes occurred in first-year residence halls. Skemp, St. Edward’s, St. Joseph’s and St. Benilde now have outside doors that open with student ID access, joining LaSalle and Brother Leopold who had card access last year.

A new lounge was created in St. Joseph’s hall, and in St. Edward’s Living Learning Center, study rooms, lounge renovations, and a sunroom have been put in.