When you think of the greatest moments in college, there’s a good chance they’re the ones you shared having fun with your friends. As academically focused as Bentley is, it’s only natural to want more of those great moments, whether that’s a bigger attendance at student events, even bigger concerts, and a huge culture around athletic games. We work hard to uphold the reputation of what it means to be a student at Bentley University, not to mention pay one of the highest tuition rates in the country. Why then don’t we demand more of our college experience?

Hello, my name is Jason Benedict and I am representing a student group called The Top Shelf. One of the things that my group and I would like to see at Bentley is the construction of a entertainment center. Once built, it would be the new hub of all large campus events, hosting speakers, concerts, a hockey rink for our Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey team, as well as convocation and graduation. Currently, our options for student events are shared spaces in the student center, Koumantzelis, and the Dana Center, and attending a hockey game means the inconvenience of driving down to the horrendous John A. Ryan Skating Arena (JAR) in Watertown. The school is also throwing away an unreasonable amount of our money every time we rent a tent for an outdoor event. That’s money that could be spent for the people who are paying to go here—us.

If Bentley is going to climb the ranks as one of the top business schools, it only makes sense that campus life improves as well. I recently attended an SGA meeting and expressed my concerns to SGA, Dean Shepardson, and Bentley’s CFO, and we’ve been challenged to get the support of student leaders if we want to make a convocation center happen. This speaks volumes about the power we have as students, and how we can make things happen if we work together towards a common goal.

As a student leader, I would be truly grateful if you would take the time to draft a simple letter demonstrating your support in telling the administration why you would want to see an on-campus entertainment center. On December 9th there is a meeting taking place where the topic of a entertainment center may be discussed. I encourage you to send your plead to Dean Shepardson by that date. We can make a better Bentley experience happen, but it starts with us as individuals to step up to the plate.