La Voz

Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Campus Voice

Media Credit: Anna Rendall Naoko Vogt studies in the campus center cafeteria.

Media Credit: Anna Rendall The cafeteria offers many salad bar options.

Media Credit: Anna Rendall Michael Raquinio, geography major, IMs friends about an upcoming statistics quiz in the lower level of the campus center.

Media Credit: Anna Rendall Hinson Campus Center Lower Level

The votes are in. Students say the Hinson Campus Center has improved. Ninety percent of returning students I asked said the Campus Center is better than it used to be. Most said the reason they visit the Hinson Campus Center is to catch a quick meal between classes. The cafeteria now offers organic meal options, along with biodegradable cups and take-out containers.

Besides housing the cafeteria, the Campus Center is home to Financial Aid, Campus Security, EOPS (Extended Opportunities Programs and Services), DASB (De Anza Associated Student Body), Student Activities and the Health Office. These services are utilized efficiently by only a minority of the students I talked with. It could be that students are using these services without noticing they are in the Hinson Campus Center. Or possibly students don't know enough about the services provided to utilize them.

The Financial Aid office helps students find ways to pay for their education, They help students determine if they are eligible to get fees waived, money for books and tuition, and in some cases, personal spending money. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) determines eligibility. On FAFSA Fridays, the Financial Aid office helps students complete applications so they can receive funding.

Saving money isn't the only thing the people in the Hinson Campus Center can help you with. You could also make friends if you stop by the Student Activities office to find out about joining a club. Joining one of the various clubs on campus is a great way to meet people who share your interests.

Student Activities also has an online housing board, book exchange board, free legal advice and discount movie tickets. You can get movie tickets for as cheap as 6 dollars if the movie has been in theaters for over two weeks.

Once you've made enough friends, you can run for the DASB Senate, the student council. The DASB Senate meets on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., except for the first meeting of the month, when it meets at 4:30 p.m. The Student Council Chambers is on the lower level of the Hinson Campus Center. The DASB provides funds for athletics, clubs, entertainment, guest speakers and the school newspaper. The Senate's goal is to represent student interests to the college and district committees that are responsible for making policy changes at De Anza.

The students I asked are right. The new Hinson Campus Center is definitely improved. It would behoove both new students and returning students see it for yourself, even if it is just to grab some lunch.

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