The Santos Manuel Student Union: A beacon of new beginnings
The Santos Manuel Student Union expansion at Cal State San Bernardino, set to open in early 2022, will be “a beacon of new beginnings for the campus community,” as described by Suany Echevarria, vice president of finance for the university’s Associated Students Inc.
“The Santos Manuel Student Union sits on the territory and ancestral land of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (Yuhaaviatam), and therefore it marries the vision of those who came before us with the endless possibilities for those who come after us,” she said, describing the expansion as the headquarters for resources and a place for fellowship.
Julia Ruiz, chair of the SMSU and Recreation & Wellness Center Board of Directors, agrees, calling the expansion a home where everyone belongs and is welcomed now and forever.
“I hope that this intention will carry and strengthen for many CSUSB generations to come,” she said. “I believe the expansion is a symbol of our students, employees and, ultimately, the Inland Empire communities’ unity and resilience during the most difficult times we have ever faced.”
Dubbed “SMSU North,” with the original building renamed “SMSU South,” the new expansion will have various cultural centers, “where individuals can celebrate their identities and commune with others,” said Jesse Felix, interim executive director of the SMSU and Recreation & Wellness Center.
“It was literally built with social spaces in mind for students to get together in an informal way to talk about life, to talk about class and just kind of be in a comfortable setting,” said Felix. “I think there’s a real win for students to get together.”
“The new SMSU is a representation of who we are as a community, and the potential that we have,” said Echevarria. “It will continue to be a place where every culture is appreciated, validated, and where we foster inclusivity.”
The affinity centers will be located on the third floor, including the Women’s Resource Center, Osher Adult Re-Entry Center, Queer Transgender Resource Center, First Peoples’ Center, LatinX Center, Asian Pacific Islander Center, and Pan African Student Success Center. The student chambers will also be located on the third floor, where the SMSU Board and ASI will hold their meetings.
“The Club Hub will be on the third floor as well,” said Anthony Roberson, associate director of operations for the SMSU. “This will be an engaging space for our student clubs and organizations to gather and develop ideas for programming for the upcoming year.”
The new building will also feature a multi-purpose ballroom, which is twice the size of the original SMSU Events Center, an eight-lane bowling alley with cosmic lighting and video screens, a game room, a pub, food service and retail space, collaborative spaces for student organizations and support centers, and a bookstore.
“The SMSU North, through its programing and world-class facility, will continue to be the focal point of the campus where students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and guests can create and develop an everlasting connection to the university,” said Roberson.
Paola Galvez, executive vice president of ASI, had similar words about the opening.
“The SMSU expansion will help benefit the students and campus community by allowing our Coyote family to come together and create new everlasting memories in a highly anticipated building that everyone has been so excited to experience,” she said, noting that she is looking forward to the influence the new building will have on students to get involved.
“The thing I am most looking forward to about this expansion is the effect that it will have in motivating students to get involved in leadership,” Galvez said, adding that the expansion would not have been possible if it were not for the conversations among student leaders who one day decided to advocate for this creation.
Roberson agrees, calling the new building “the campus living room and campus social hub,” that will assist in the retention and development of students. “Planned activities also provide students with leadership opportunities and employment, which promote an active learning experience as well as relaxation, entertainment and social interaction,” he said.
The SMSU North was built with school spirit in mind; large CSUSB letters have been set up right outside the building, new coyote statues have been placed at the north entrance off of Coyote Walk, and custom paw prints are in the carpeting throughout the building.
“With projects like the new SMSU North expansion, it’s always essential to infuse campus spirit and campus traditions to enhance the student and campus community experience,” said Roberson.
“I think the primary contribution this will give to students is more space to be able to commune, more space to be able to gather, more space to be able to have school-spirted type events,” said Felix, who notes that the expansion is also providing new opportunities in SMSU South.
The original building will include support centers such as the Wellness Center, the Graduate Student Success Center, Financial Literacy Center, a Commuter Lounge, and the Career Center. In fact, 29,000 square feet in SMSU South is being renovated.
As the opening of the expansion quickly approaches, Echevarria said she is “blessed to be a part of such a noteworthy moment.”
“I’m honored to partake of the strides that CSUSB has made, including student leaders who have paved the way for such a significant contribution to the university,” she said. “Because this campus is an integral part of our region, I am enthusiastic about the new spaces that will welcome CSUSB’s students, their families, and the surrounding community.”
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, at 11 a.m. with opening day activities at noon and 4 p.m.