KSU TRUMBULL Group seeks more office space

The director of student services says no student organization has its own office space.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Members of a student group at Kent State University Trumbull Campus say lack of office space hampers their efforts to reach out to the community.
The Independent Black/Minority Coalition includes about 80 members at the Champion campus.
Last semester, they worked out of an office used by the student activities coordinator. The office had a telephone the students could use to contact speakers and arrange events.
This semester, the coordinator isn't working at the campus, and the office is being used for storage.
Making contacts
Without a campus phone, they must use their home phones or rack up cell-phone bills, the students say.
"It keeps us from coming together collectively," said Tracy Vaughn, executive secretary.
When trying to arrange an event such as a speaker coming to campus, the group has to rely on getting its messages out through the library, where adviser Evelina Smith works.
IB/MC works with community groups such as the Trumbull County Urban League and the ministerial association to arrange events.
If members have to contact someone off campus, they have to find a telephone and if they don't reach the person immediately, hope they try to call back, Vaughn said.
If they make calls from home, they have to come back to campus to check with other students' schedules and determine if space is available to arrange an event.
"It's too much," Vaughn said.
An office is necessary to maintain a relationship within the community, said Daniel Bossard, president.
Usual situation
Linda Petrilla, director of student services at the campus, said all student groups are in the same situation.
Students need to work with their advisers on areas of concern such as office space.
IB/MC members point to the Adult Non-Traditional Students group, which has an office with a telephone and a computer.
Petrilla said the office is likely assigned to the group's adviser, who allows them to use the space.
Vaughn has been trying to meet with Petrilla, but scheduling has been a problem, she said.
The students also point to a handful of empty offices in the same area as the ANTS office.
Petrilla said she isn't aware of all the spaces on campus.
"I only know what's allocated to us," she said, and that doesn't include an extra office for a student group.
Bossard and Vaughn stress they aren't trying to be negative or difficult with the administration.
"We're extending an open hand to them and saying, give us some assistance because we represent Kent Trumbull, and everything we do is under Kent Trumbull," Vaughn said.
Group's history
IB/MC has been on campus since 1974, an outgrowth of the Black United Students group at the main KSU campus.
"We're expanding throughout the regional campuses," Bossard said.
The group plans a tribute to Justice Thurgood Marshall later this month, featuring Youngstown native Nathaniel R. Jones, retired judge of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
Other events include a talent show, mentoring programs for elementary-school pupils, and self-defense and CPR classes.
"We work to build a bridge between the community, and Kent Trumbull and the university benefit from that," Vaughn said.
dick@vindy.com