About the Student Center

• We are home to the Milton R. Bellin collection of WPA era murals from the 1930s that were once decorated the walls of our administration building Davidson Hall. The murals were rescued in 1984 and the paintings were then cleaned, framed and then hung in the Student Center’s Bellin Gallery.
• During the late 60’s and early 70’s it was the place to gather to protest and “sit in.”
• Otis Day and the Knights played to a sold-out crowd in the Ballroom, which is now Alumni Hall, in Spring 1985. Huey Lewis and the News and Billy Idol also performed at Central during the 1984-1985 academic year.
• In the 90’s we met town meeting style to decide what to do to learn from the Rodney King beating and from that came the MOSAIC Center.
• Ben Affleck visited the Student Center on Nov. 3, 2006 to promote U.S. Senator of Connecticut Chris Murphy’s campaign.
• The mural “Roots of the Caribbean” formally displayed in the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Center is now displayed in the Student Center (June 2020).

Several aspects of the Student Center really appeal to our commuter students. The Devil’s Den and Semesters dining area have various dining options and seating for those grabbing a bite between classes.

Couches and other lounge furniture are scattered around the Student Center, creating that “living room” feel we strive for. In certain lounge spaces, advertising and postering are prohibited so that students have a less distracting environment in which to study or meet with others.

• An ellipse pattern is found throughout the building in the carpet, mezzanines, staircases and the copper drum.
• A copper drum ties the building in with the rest of the copper clad roofs on other campus buildings.
• All recent space additions are either in the drum, or in angled window curtain spaces on the exterior of the building.
• Many interior locations were opened to the second floor to create a large open feeling in the building.
• Numerous large windows allow for best use of natural lighting in the building.
• Old windows from the original building were used in interior office walls and new windows were added to the exterior of the building reflecting the design of the old windows.
• The windows in the Devil’s Den and Semesters dining areas have a subtle blue tint, utilizing school colors and showcasing Blue Devil spirit!
• Blue Devil spirit is also evident in the appearance of an anatomically correct blue devil statue in the Devil’s Den.
• Scattered around the Student Center are pieces of artwork and sculptures. The Student Center is owner to the first piece of art on campus grounds!
• Guests enter the building through castle-like entry ways.

Our philosophy in The Student Center is that it is just that - student centered. Any program that takes place in the building is to have a connection with the University mission. Our Central Reservations Office (CRO) plays a pivotal role in this and has a very close relationship with our student organizations, allowing them first priority to reserve space 3 years out for their major events. Major University events, such as Orientation and Open House can reserve space 5 years in advance. Campus departments can also reserve major events three years out, external groups can reserve space as early as 1 year out.

Our major large programming space is Alumni Hall, a large banquet facility where we host our formal cultural balls, conferences, dinners and recognition programs. Bellin Gallery, a smaller room attached to Alumni Hall is great for workshops, lectures and small banquet lunches and dinners. Semesters is a dining area where students typically eat lunch during the day. In the evening, we have used that space for poetry expos, debates, concerts, our weekly late-night program – Devils Den @ 10PM, and more. We also have eight meeting rooms of various sizes and styles, and some outdoor space as well.