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Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
New Couches, Cookies and Verticality
I see someone moved the furniture on 3rd this week and added a new black, leather couch/bed. Alfredo from the EC Computer lab walked by me the other day and said that I could sleep here if I wanted - just bring a pillow and a blanket and I'm good to go. If there was a shower and some lockers, I could, but I think I would die from eating White Macadamia Nut Cookies from Starbucks.
I'm reminded of Steze Staznack, an NYU student who actually lived out of lockers and slept in the library because he couldn't pay the crazy rent in NY (not to mention the tuition). He set up a live journal documenting how public space at school became his home.
http://homeless-at-nyu.livejournal.com/
Today I met Martha Viveros, a PhD student here. She gave me props for setting up the blog and doing something with public space. "In the five years I've been here", she said, "I've never seen anything like this". I asked what she thought about OISE as a space:
"This building does not allow for community building. It's very vertical and doesn't allow people to get people together and talk."
She that if something could change here, it would be the fifth floor - "it's a great space to get people together to talk".
I'm reminded of Steze Staznack, an NYU student who actually lived out of lockers and slept in the library because he couldn't pay the crazy rent in NY (not to mention the tuition). He set up a live journal documenting how public space at school became his home.
http://homeless-at-nyu.livejournal.com/
Today I met Martha Viveros, a PhD student here. She gave me props for setting up the blog and doing something with public space. "In the five years I've been here", she said, "I've never seen anything like this". I asked what she thought about OISE as a space:
"This building does not allow for community building. It's very vertical and doesn't allow people to get people together and talk."
She that if something could change here, it would be the fifth floor - "it's a great space to get people together to talk".
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Void on 5th
I was invited to a 'space meeting' with a number of other students and Louise Cowin (super awesome student services lady) to meet with Joe Weinberg, our Chief Administrative Officer. We learned a few things about the fifth floor:
1. UofT has an exclusive food contract with Aramark. Aramark has the run of food services across campus and can contract out to vendors such as Starbucks, as we see downstairs. The students at the meeting brought up the concern that those eating at OISE (aside from bringing our own lunches), really have no where to go in the vicinity for food except Tim Hortons. The Pita joint that used to be on Bedford will likley be replaced by stores that cater to the elite residents soon to live above.
If you go to the fifth floor you can see the remnants of the old Aramark cafeteria. When OISE was consumed by UofT, the food contract became Aramark's. From what I hear, nutrionally-poor food was served at outrageous prices and led to it's downfall. Joe told us that they couldn't compete with other food vendors in the area.
We put forth the idea to Joe that we would like to see something on fifth that serves inexpensive and nutritious food. Perhaps a food co-operative? A discussion has started to look at putting together a food survey that captures what those of us here would like to eat and bringing those needs into a discussion with Joe and Aramark.
2. When asked about improvements to the space, Joe indicated that minimal/modest expenditures were possible for creating a more suitable environment on fifth. A coat of paint and some plants were offered as modest improvements by Joe. We asked him about the long term vision for the space and he spoke cautiously about plans to turn the floor into classroom and research areas.
How do you think the space should be used?
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Public Office Space in the EC
My new office on 3rd.
Hey folks, my name is Sean Park, an MA student in TPS. Over the next few months I will be writing my thesis and have decided to spend some of the time writing in the hallways of the education commons. The EC, while full of very interesting people, a computer lab and wireless access, is not exactly a common area. So I pulled myself out of the dark recesses of an office and placed myself in the commons. I work on a crusty purple couch as people walk up and down the hallway towards purposes I can only usually guess.
I'm interested in random, yet connected conversations. There are patterns that emerge from these kinds of conversations and sitting at the right place (doesn't matter what time) helps me listen to what those patterns might be saying. This is the wonder of public space.
Stop by my office or send me somethign to post here (sean.park@learnlink.mcmaster.ca).
Perhaps I can interview you as a citizen of the commons.
Peace
sean
Hey folks, my name is Sean Park, an MA student in TPS. Over the next few months I will be writing my thesis and have decided to spend some of the time writing in the hallways of the education commons. The EC, while full of very interesting people, a computer lab and wireless access, is not exactly a common area. So I pulled myself out of the dark recesses of an office and placed myself in the commons. I work on a crusty purple couch as people walk up and down the hallway towards purposes I can only usually guess.
I'm interested in random, yet connected conversations. There are patterns that emerge from these kinds of conversations and sitting at the right place (doesn't matter what time) helps me listen to what those patterns might be saying. This is the wonder of public space.
Stop by my office or send me somethign to post here (sean.park@learnlink.mcmaster.ca).
Perhaps I can interview you as a citizen of the commons.
Peace
sean
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