The Taubman Atrium, seen above, is being considered as a possible site for a Starbucks or Einstein Bros. bagel shop. According to Dean Jose Antonio Bowen, plans for the new addition are already underway. (Christina Parrish)

Big changes are happening at the Meadows School of the Arts, and they’re enough to make even the most die-hard business students want to change their major so they too can hang out at Meadows.

For one thing, Meadows students’ efforts to get to know their fellow artists may soon be made much easier by the addition of food services in Meadows, possibly in the form of a Starbucks or an Einstein Bros. Bagels.

“My argument has always been that if you want to amp up the sense of community in Meadows, don’t let everyone walk to 7-Eleven or Stromboli’s,” said Tommy Newton, Recruitment Director for Meadows School of the Arts.

Meadows has long felt the desire to unify as a school, a difficult feat due to varying class, rehearsal and performance times and spaces. A common area to meet and eat might be just what Meadows needs.

Surveys were sent out to Meadows students and faculty over the winter break, inquiring about their cuisine wants and needs. Among the options suggested were putting in a Starbucks or an Einstein Bros. Bagels establishment.

“If we get this off the ground it could be on a smaller scale at first,” Newton said.

“Something like a sandwich cart in the Taubman Atrium, or maybe a coffee shop in the Bonelli Commons or on the 2nd floor of Greer Garson. We might start with a cart to see how it goes and if it’s rockin’, we can move up to something bigger and better.”

Meadows Dean Jose Antonio Bowen says plans are already underway.

“It would go in the Bonelli Faculty Commons just off of the Taubman Atrium,” said Bowen.

“There are still some questions to be answered about facilities, setup, and cost.”

Bowen added that there is likely to be a “town meeting” to discuss options and decide between a Java City (similar to the one in Hughes-Trigg) or the newer options of Starbucks or Einstein Bros.

Whatever is decided upon, Meadows students can look forward to a place where they can socialize and enjoy snacks between classes and rehearsals.

Other changes at Meadows include the idea of a Meadows “front door,” which consists of the Greer Garson entrance and third floor.

“The idea is to get rid of the ‘Tower of Power’ stigma,” said Newton.

“The vision is that the third floor of Greer Garson will now be more hustle and bustle instead of just CTV students going in and out of class.”

This is also the reason that Meadows undergraduate recruiting has been moved from the student affairs division to external affairs along with marketing, development, and outreach and diversity.

Changes in Greer Garson include a bright yellow paint job, new art, and furniture relocated from the Bonelli Commons. Meadows higher-ups are also thinking about adding more modern furniture, a plasma flat-screen television and computer terminals for those without a laptop.

Meadows is working toward becoming completely wireless. A wireless lounge has been put in on the third floor above the Garson next to Dean Bowen’s office.

“Almost all of Meadows should now be wireless – certainly all of the classrooms, but that is only the start,” said Bowen.

“We need to make progress.”

Repurposing Greer Garson into an easy-to-find Meadows “front door” is proving to be beneficial to faculty and students, both current and potential.

“The upgrades and refurbishing is all about finding more spaces for current students to chill,” said Newton.

“But it will also serve as a great place for prospective students or donors to see current students and look at the displays to see what Meadows is up to,”

Dean Bowen agrees.

“Part of the point of having a common ‘front door’ is that we can display all of these things [awards and accomplishments] in one place for visitors,” said Bowen.

Even if you’re not an arts student, it’s easy to be proud of all the great things going on at Meadows School of the Arts. Stop by to check out the new look of Greer Garson, and be sure to look for more exciting changes to come.