Some changes around the lounge

It'll be pretty obvious when you're next in the lounge the changes that took place.

Some of the goals we wanted to achieve were:

• make it easier to get to the fridge and candy machines
• make it feel like a larger space (or as large as it actually is)
• have some space for the Exec to work and not have everyone else crowd them out
• open up the room from the entrance so visitors weren't immediately on top of us on the couches
• not have everyone so cramped in one half of the room and not use the other
• clean up a bit! (the carpets are filthy, and under the couches rather gross
• test each of the ethernet drops
• fit more people into the room
• some other stuff

I think we've met most of those goals, though having Exec/office space hasn't really been fixed because we didn't want to lose any seating. We got rid of a lot of clutter and trash and recycling, along with the old hardware that kept accumulating and didn't seem to find a home.

Please do your part to keep the lounge clean by taking your trash and recycling out to the hallway bins, and let us know if there are any cables that aren't working so we can test and replace them as needed.

I know many of you will respond with an "It's different; I liked it the way it was" sort of perspective, which I understand. Consider this: you've never known it any other way, so if this was your first time in SOCIS, you'd think it 'normal' and like it just the same.
That said, give it a chance before you make up your mind; let us know what you think, and we can iterate the layout further to meet our ever changing needs.

Thanks to Mike Pratt (2nd yr CIS), Laura Richards (2nd yr CIS) and Kelvin Lau (Community Liaison) for rallying on a Sunday night to pitch in.
And of course, we can't forget Yang Lu (1st yr CIS): it wouldn't have happened without you.

*Chad Chabot
SOCIS VP