Students are constantly socializing in Java City, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Umphrey Lee, but none of these places offer flat screen TVs, Wii and Playstation consoles and relaxing booths and chairs to study in. But with the opening of SMU’s “M” Lounge today, students will have another place to hang out with friends, catch the latest on SportsCenter and maybe even find some time to finish a lingering assignment.

In last year’s Student Senate elections, a popular platform for the candidates was making the Hughes-Trigg Student Center friendlier.

“We always used to have more student friendly spaces, but over time some things have been squeezed out,” said David Hayden, assistant director of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center. “The first thing to go was a lounge and game space.”

After getting approval for a new lounge from SMU administration, plans were set in place to create an entirely new atmosphere for students to enjoy. Working in conjunction with SMU’s Guildhall and GameStop, SMU received six PlayStation 2 stations, six Wiis and six Xbox 360s from GameStop, according to Hayden. There will also be 12 flat screen TVs, including one projector for students to play video games on, watch TV and view PowerPoint presentations for class.

“Guildhall started coming to Hughes Trigg and students would play their games and that got a great response, so with [the Guildhall’s] relationship with GameStop, that partnership developed into GameStop becoming interested in funding this room for us,” explained Hayden.

GameStop officials and members of SMU’s Guildhall were not available for comment.

Today’s grand opening features Mike Hogan, chief managing officer of GameStop. The official dedication of the lounge is today at 3:30 p.m. on the main level of Hughes Trigg, across from the Pollock Gallery.