A new meeting and hangout spot has been added to UF’s campus.
   
The Campus Ministry house, purchased by the College First Church of God, is now available for use by any student or group of students.
   
William D. Miller, director of Christian ministry, saw potential in the house.
   
“It was going to be sitting vacant, so I said ‘This doesn’t sound good,’” he said. He then suggested the house be made available for student use.
   
Located at 1130 N. Main St., the house is behind the church and is easily accessible from campus. It can be reserved through the facilities office, just like any other building or room on campus and it falls under all University policies for facilities.
   
Miller says the house is there for anyone whenever they want to go there.
   
“We don’t want to put any hour restrictions on it,” he said. “It’s open to anyone on campus who wants to use it.”
   
Even though the house is a new addition to the campus property, it has already seen a lot of use. Students have hung out there after Thursday Night Live, had pizza parties, and it will be used by the Office of International Admissions and Services for its graduate assistant Christmas party.
   
There are several rooms available for reservation in the house, including a kitchen, great room, basement, office and one smaller upstairs living room. The downstairs great room is equipped with a 47-inch television, a DVD player, surround sound and a Nintendo Wii gaming system.
   
“It’s open but it’s not quite done,” said Miller. “There are still no Internet, cable or phone lines.”
   
Despite this, Miller encourages students who are looking for a place to go to check out the house. He says it can serve almost any purpose a student or group of students is looking for, and individual rooms can be reserved if there are a small number of people.
   
“It’s a place to go and chill out. It’s bigger than a dorm lobby but smaller than the AMU,” said Miller. “It’s open for whatever.”
   
By Paige Aten, communication major, Napoleon, Ohio