By Mary Ann Georgantopoulos and Jessica Torrez-Riley

Thirteen student groups were informed this week that they will have to move their offices from the second floor of the Curry Student Center to make room for administrative offices. Given only two weeks’ notice that their offices are being taken away, many members of affected student groups are protesting the university’s decision.

Room 232 of the Curry Student Center currently hosts the offices of student organizations such as the Agape Christian Fellowship, the Progressive Student Alliance, the United Nations Association and NU Barkada, among others.

“They would like to put administrative offices into room 232, which is right now a suite for student groups,” said Susan Dye, Student Government Association (SGA) vice president for student services. “The purpose of that is to consolidate administrative offices onto the second floor into a ‘one-stop-shop.'”

The moving process must be completed by mid-October, allowing two weeks for student groups to pack their things, those involved said. Members of some student groups, several of which said they hadn’t received notification of the move, were upset with the short notice, those interviewed said.

The room the student groups are slated to move into is currently a computer lab on the fourth floor of the student center. It is a long and narrow room with 13 work stations and some cabinet space. Under the plan, lockers would be given to each organization for storage. Despite the attempt at new accommodations for student groups, Dye said moving the student groups to this room is a “bad idea.”

Rob Pugliese, a member of pharmacy fraternity Phi Delta Chi, which currently has office space in room 232, had not heard that he was being removed until he was interviewed by The News. He said he received “no notification what so ever.”

The fraternity is a new group that just got their office this year.

“This doesn’t make any sense; they make everything so hard for us here,” Pugliese said.

Hassan Harris, president of NU Fanzone and a senior biochemistry major, was also unaware of the situation prior to being interviewed.

After a meeting held Monday night, seven of the 13 student groups compiled a list of complaints against moving out of room 232.

Members of the United Nations Association wrote in a list of grievances that “they must have materials easily accessible in the office every day in order to function.”

They also stressed that they have storage materials, such as file cabinets, which would not fit in lockers.

Members of NU Barkada said they grew attached to room 232 since the group has met there for several years. Having room 232 gives their organization a central location, members said.

The process for a student group to get an office is very difficult, Pugliese said. Each group must fully explain its projects and write a report to prove the group needs it, he said. There is also an interview process which each group must undergo.

“[Moving] completely undoes the space allocation process that we fought for,” said members of The Arab Student Association. Members of Lamda Kappa Sigma said the moving process is “too rushed.”

“How do you expect student groups to add things to the school if you don’t make it easy for us?” Pugliese said.

With Homecoming and mid-terms just around the corner, members of the organizations said they are worried they will not have enough time to move and keep up with their groups’ programming.

In an e-mail to Dye that included the list of grievances, a member of Student Ambassadors wrote, “I realize the need to be out soon, but was wondering if waiting until after Homecoming at least could be a compromise. This is a very hectic time for our group, and I’m sure plenty of others.”

If notified earlier, some of the student groups said they would not be as opposed to moving.

“I’m not 100 percent opposed to moving, I would just like to be informed,” said Derek Hursey, president of Phi Delta Chi. “If we had the same access and the same square feet, it would be fine.”

According to Dye, the Northeastern administration has been “very receptive” to the students’ feelings. Everything is still up in the air as to the future of room 232 and nothing has been set in stone, Dye said.