In the making, a common room for students living onn campus. Photo: Zelda Nyangari

No alcohol allowed in here

SiMolde is banning consumption of alcohol in a new common room for students living on campus.

By ELMIS EDUARDO SIERRA & ZELDA NYANGARI (photo)

A new bar? A jacuzzi? These were some of the ideas for the new common room. A group of students, and representatives from Start HiMolde and SiMolde Bolig met in mid-February to share their thoughts on how the room is going to be used.

“It was a chance for the students say what they need and what they want for this room,” student environment coordinator Sigrid Haugros of SiMolde says.

Knut Hofgaard Eikre (left) and Kristoffer Thorvaldsen sharing their ideas with the group. Photo: Zelda Nyangari
Knut Hofgaard Eikre (left) and Kristoffer Thorvaldsen sharing their ideas with the group. Photo: Zelda Nyangari

During the brainstorming workshop at the ProtoMore Lab all the invited students were encouraged to come up with ideas on how the common room will look, and what are going to be the main activities offered.

Using the innovation methodology commonly applied for entrepreneurs and companies who want to boost their business, the students shared their thoughts for more than an hour on what colors this place is going to be paint with, which games/food and drinks are going to be offer and if it was possible to get a jacuzzi there, or even a student bar.

 Ideas for the common room expressed on Post-It notes. Photo: Zelda Nyangari

Ideas for the common room expressed on Post-It notes. Photo: Zelda Nyangari

“We can’t have a bar there, because we don’t want to compete with Smuget,” says Haugros about this idea.

The student environment coordinator says the common room is going to be an alcohol-free area, because of the proximity to the students’ residences and that alcoholic beverages or parties will affect the dynamic in the neighborhood in negative way.

Creativity and fun were present during the meeting. Photo: Zelda Nyangari
Creativity and fun were present during the meeting. Photo: Zelda Nyangari

Even if the common room project doesn’t have a specific deadline, the SiMolde is expecting to finish it by the end of the spring semester, after fixing some minor issues regarding water leaks and rusty pipes which jeopardized the completion of the job.

Hence, it is likely that by the beginning of the autumn semester the HiMolde community will be able to enjoy and socialize in a common room in the student blocks located on campus.

Amalie Nordeide from Start HiM. Photo: Zelda Nyangari
Amalie Nordeide from Start HiM. Photo: Zelda Nyangari
Work-hard always pays off: a tasty meal after the meeting. Photo: Zelda Nyangari
Work-hard always pays off: a tasty meal after the meeting. Photo: Zelda Nyangari