The Presidents' Leadership Conference, held Sept. 14 and 15 in Roanoke, Virginia, reinforced the demand for social change on campus. Students, faculty and administrators generated ideas to enhance student life through the creation of new traditions, increasing "hangout" space and the construction of a recreation center.

Each year, President Thomas K. Hearn Jr. and Student Government executive officers host the weekend retreat which this year gathered 24 student leaders of major student organizations together with 19 faculty, staff and administrators.

"The purpose of PLC is two-fold," SG president senior Ryan Ramsey said. "It builds relationships among campus leaders and allows for a tangible outcome through consideration of strategies for collective action."

The theme of this year's conference was "Reviving Student Life." According to senior Jonathan Willingham, SG secretary, an effective basis for discussion was provided by a presentation on the findings of several studies recently conducted by the Division of Student Life.

Ken Zick, vice president for student life and instructional resources, presented the results of last year's listening sessions with various student groups and of a comparative study of different aspects of student life at other universities around the Southeast. Alan Cox, consultant for the Division of Student Life, shared data from a survey done in March assessing overall student satisfaction with the university.

"Ryan Ramsey asked the group afterwards if the findings presented conformed to their impressions. There wasn't much to say­everybody nodded their head," Zick said.

The conference participants subsequently divided into groups to discuss specific topics: Winston-Salem social options, traditions, on-campus social options, Greek life and intellectual and cultural life.

According to Ramsey, the need for greater hang-out space on campus emerged as a predominant concern.

One proposal discussed at length calls for renovation of unused lounge space, most likely in Taylor House, to create a coffeehouse for students to study and hang out late at night.

"We envision it as a Starbucks or Borders right on campus," Ramsey said.

The Division of Student Life has already done the budgetary work, Zick said. What is now required, he added, is attention and energy from SG to make such renovation a priority. A planning group and help from both Residence Life and Housing and Facilities Management would then follow.

"SG is committed to reaching this goal," Willingham said of the proposal.

Another recommendation for expanded hangout space is construction of a recreation center, estimated to cost million. It would include an Olympic size pool, bowling alley and pool and foosball tables.

"I don't think that there's any reasonable chance in the short-term that a rec center will be approved. But that doesn't mean planning shouldn't take place," Zick said.

The recreational center as well as development on the periphery of campus were placed under five year goals.

The last discussion session on Sunday morning grouped all the ideas that had been generated under one to two, five or 10 year frames for achievement.

In addition to converting an unused lounge, student leaders said they would like to see Shorty's revamped in the next year or two to create an atmosphere more popular with students.

Other short-term goals focused on reviving old traditions or creating new ones. One lost tradition, for example, is a parade with student-designed floats during homecoming.

Ideas for new traditions include a campus-wide formal dance, a senior walk around campus prior to commencement and white light decorations for the holiday season.

Another recommendation placed under one to two year objectives was lights for the baseball stadium. "Our baseball team is the only consistently top 50 team not to have lights," Ramsey said. "That destroys the home-field advantage because games must be held in the afternoon when most students have class."

Zick said that he expects to see this year "a converted general use lounge, enhanced programming in Shorty's and holiday lights." Further progress, he said, depends on student initiative.

"We need to work on short-term goals as evidence of what works in order to accomplish our long-term goals," senior Sean Prince, a student representative on the board of trustees, said.

Willingham emphasized the collaborative nature of improving student life.

He and other SG officers agreed that SG will take the lead, but they are optimistic they will receive the necessary cooperation from the administration and other campus groups. Provost William Gordon, who gave the keynote address at the conference, corroborated the need for student leadership. "What I really enjoyed about this weekend and what I felt good about is that I think it signals the university's belief that students do have a role in helping shape the university's future," he said.