It was important for LUU to get student voices at the core of decision-making for this space, so many general interest societies were asked to share their ideas. Dean – Anime and Manga Society President – was involved in the design workshops for Crossroads, and was a strong advocate for it.
“Crossroads is a place to unwind and meet up with friends outside of classes. I hope students can use the space to de-stress and make new friends from LUU’s societies.” – Dean
Ollie – Nintendo and Pokémon Society President – agrees that Crossroads might become a potential point of entry to societies hanging out there, encouraging students to make friends and (re)discover hobbies.
“My hope is that Crossroads will be a space of comfort and fun for students where they can engage with their hobbies and meet like-minded people to enjoy some time away from studying.” – Ollie
Dean lets us in behind the meaning of the name ‘Crossroads’:
“There were some great suggestions including “Hideout”, “Junction”, “Spawn Point”, but I’m happy that “Crossroads” was selected, it was one of my favourites. To me it represents how we each follow our own road through life but at some point they must intersect at a crossroad. It also reminds me of the game “Hollow Knight” with its “Forgotten Crossroads” that were once a bustling hive of activity that connected everyone in the city together. Crossroads can be a hive of activity that connects all students together no matter their interests.” – Dean
Both Ollie and Dean emphasise the importance of spaces like this for students, because arts and entertainment are essential to helping everyone clear their mind, generate new ideas, and foster meaningful connections.
“Arts and entertainment offer us some respite from the demands of an academic life. They are important to maintain a sense of normalcy and enjoyment while away from home, as well as important for connecting with others and making friends! They’re also important as, due to how overwhelming the transition to University can be, they can become a safe space for students to continue/discover hobbies and interests they may have felt the need to discontinue due to the demands of academic life.” – Ollie
Dean also wants to emphasise the importance of LUU as part of the student experience:
“LUU is where I found a community who accepted me and where I found new friends for life.” – Dean
Head down to Union Square on the -1 floor in LUU to check out Crossroads for its new PCs, game consoles, and board games, to relax and discover general interest societies. Both Dean with the Anime and Manga Society, and Ollie with the Nintendo and Pokémon Society will be running events in Crossroads, and everyone is welcome!
Crossroads is open to all students between 11am – 5pm, and it can be booked by clubs and societies in the evenings (book through your committee dashboard).
