Students flooded across Highland Road on Monday to take their first looks at the new Barnes & Noble at LSU.
Paul Stevenson, LSU Bookstore general manager, said Monday was scheduled for what management considers a “soft opening” to make sure systems were in check and everything was running smoothly. Stevenson said everything went off without fail.
“It’s been fun for me to see everybody’s faces as they come in; their jaws are dropping,” Stevenson said.
Valarie Hunt, secondary English education senior, called the new store gorgeous and said she plans to utilize the space as a study area.
Hunt said the location is convenient, especially for students who live in the East Campus Apartments like she does.
Jacqueline Johnson, mechanical engineering sophomore, said she was “in love” with the store.
“It’s huge, and it’s beautiful. Oh, I’m in love,” she said.
Johnson said she liked the high ceilings on the first floor and the fighter plane suspended above the escalator stood out.
Despite the glamour of the new store, Johnson said its location may be an inconvenience for some.
“You are going to have students walking across Highland all day long and cars having to stop,” she said. “It will be interesting to see how it works out.”
Psychology junior Shametria Hunter said students need to be more attentive to the pedestrian traffic signals.
“They don’t [pay attention], they just walk; they don’t care,” Hunter said.
Hunter acknowledged she didn’t obey the traffic signals Monday when crossing Highland Road. She said she just followed the group of people who crossed in front of her.
Taylor Smith, biological sciences junior, said he likes the second story with the LSU Tech Store, which will provide students with computer and technical needs.
Smith said he is looking forward to the convenience of having his Apple questions answered on campus.
Jason Tolliver, director of Auxiliary Services, said the University is still working on the Apple aspect of the LSU Tech Store.
Smith said he would have liked to see a restaurant added to the bookstore in addition to the “Proudly Serving” Starbucks café.
“People could stay over here and eat rather than going back to the Union,” Smith said.
Payton Rhymes, animal science junior, said he is impressed with the layout of the store.
“There is a lot more elbow room in here,” Rhymes said.
He said home football games will bring a lot of business to the bookstore, which will be great for the University.
The old bookstore space in the Union will soon see renovations as well, according to Mary Feduccia, director of LSU Career Services.
The Olinde Career Center will be a state-of-the-art career center serving all students and is expected to open in 2013, she said.
Feduccia said the project is in the “architect phase” of finishing design work, and it will go out for bids in January.
She said the new space will feature student services on the first floor and a recruitment center and meeting rooms on the second floor.
Feduccia said the computer lab will be moved to that space as well.
“Students will not see an increase in student fees,” Feduccia said, “The center is funded by partners and generous individuals.”
