Summer’s not over yet! But as the second summer session draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the people and places that defined Summer 2023 at Franklin. The McNeely Center of Ideas & Imagination, located in the New C Building, opened this summer and has undergone an exciting transformation as the Office of Student Life has relocated from its former home in Airone. The Gregory P. Warden Student Center, located just next door to the new Office of Student Life, is now equipped with a rentable event room, a big screen TV, Wi-Fi access, charging outlets, restrooms, a water fountain, and vending machines. The space also offers several study pods, open seating areas, and adjustable desktops for student use. Most recently, amenities such as games and books have been added to the shelves. The OSL hopes to re-introduce the “take a book, leave a book” policy in which students can trade consumed literature for fresh material throughout the academic year.
Because of its central European location, Lugano is an ideal place to study or work in the summertime, and Franklin has a reputation for being an excellent host for study abroad programs and short-term conferences. This summer, students from the University of Texas at Dallas and groups from Ticino Musica, Plan B, and Amiconi stayed in Franklin residences as they gathered for their meetings and classes. Visitors staying in the New C Building reported being thankful for the cooling system in their newly built rooms, and students staying in Airone loved being near the Tone Athletic Center and closer in walking distance to downtown. The new athletic center located on the top floor of the New C Building now has all its Techno-Gym equipment installed, and the grand opening of the space is planned for Fall 2023! The Office of Student Life staff worked diligently to support all this summer’s visitors to the Franklin campus, and they hope that everyone will come by and visit their new location soon.