On Friday 7th Oct you may have seen us on North Holmes Road Campus asking students what they thought the bookshop space would be best used for.
The elected student sabbatical Officer Leadership Team have been mandated by students, through Leadership Elections and campaign feedback, to get a non-commercial student social space on the Canterbury campus.
Space at a premium
Although the Union is included in the University Master Plan to eventually move to the prison site development, this is dependent on funding and will not happen for at least 10 years, so we need to look at alternatives.
Space on Central campus is at a premium with the Laud/Pond area the central heart. This area houses a Staff Common Room and a Bookshop along with the Touchdown Cafe.
The Bookshop space?
The Union were asking students to consider "is this the best use of the space?" Is it possible for the bookshop to move to a location such as Augustine House for example? This could possibly allow for a central non-commercial student social space on campus.
On Friday’s Union on Tour we asked students what they wanted and the results showed that students do want an Students’ Union social space on campus...but they like having the bookshop in a central location too.
We like the bookshop too, and think they do a great job, but it’s our job to ask questions. We will be looking at other opportunities, so keep an eye out for us, or tell us your bright ideas.
image via @cccubookshop