Editor’s note: This article has been edited on Feb. 11 to more accurately reflect information regarding the ability to rent out the Leader Lounge and operational hours of the Northern Center. 

The Center for Student Enrichment held their grand opening of the Wildcat Leader Lounge on Wednesday, Feb. 1. from 12 to 4 p.m. Student organizations were invited to learn about the space, have snacks and even win some prizes. 

Due to the fact that NMU does not currently have a student union, the CSE created a shared space for all student organizations to gather. This space is meant for organizations to have an alternative space to rent out for their meetings due to the difficulty some organizations can have renting a room in Jamrich Hall or the Lydia M. Olson Library. 

Located in room 1216 in the Northern Center, the Wildcat Leader Lounge is filled with couches, a conference table with chairs and a television that are all available for use by any student organizations that want to rent out the space. There is also a selection of drinks and snacks within the room, including soda, trail mix and fruit snacks, while supplies last.

The lounge holds a number of supplies for student groups to use as well, such as rolls of butcher block paper, writing utensils and scissors. These items are there to give student organizations the materials they may need to create things such as posters or signs for their events. 

The lounge serves as a relaxing space where people can have meetings, CSE Special Events Coordinator Ali Deutsch said. 

“It’s really important for every group to have a place that they can meet,” Deutsch said. “I’m a person who likes to sit on couches rather than desks, so having that more relaxed environment to have those conversations is great.” 

A goal of the lounge is to stimulate the growth and organization of student groups that may have been lost due to the separation that occurred during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. By having this space, it gives the opportunity for students to attend more meetings and to get involved with organizations on campus.

The biggest goal of the lounge is to give students a space where they feel welcomed, supported and have access to supplies to accommodate their group, CSE Graduate Assistant Casey Recrosio said.

“Sometimes reserving rooms is difficult and it doesn’t feel as personal to be in a classroom,” Recrosio said. “This creates an environment that’s a little more relaxed, and kind of draws individuals to join organizations.” 

In order to get to the lounge, head to the Northern Center and continue down the hallway next to the Flagstar bank where the Wildcat Express Center is located. The lounge is all the way at the end of the hallway on the left.

The Wildcat Leader Lounge is not able to be reserved as it is a shared space for all student organizations to come and go as they please during building hours.  However, if a student organization would like to reserve a different space on campus, they can do so through The Hub.

The lounge is freely open to student organizations during the times that the Northern Center is open, which is from 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. during the week and on weekends from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (weekend times a subject to change depending on events).

For more information or updates with the Wildcat Leader Lounge or the Center for Student Enrichment, students can follow them on Instagram at @thehubnmu.