Stony Brook University Dedicates Two New Residence Halls and Dining Facility, Residence Halls are Named after Two Prominent Civil Rights Leaders

Stony Brook, NY – March 1, 2017— Honoring diversity and emphasizing technology and comfort, Stony Brook University’s newest state-of-the-art student facilities, Chávez and Tubman Residence Halls and East Side Dining, were officially dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 22, 2017. The facilities are equipped to provide a modern and convenient student life experience, as well as a safe and inclusive environment.

More than 500 members of the Stony Brook community attended the event. Dignitaries in attendance included Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Carl Heastie ’90; New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright; Kevin Law, Chairman of the Stony Brook Council; Frank Trotta, Stony Brook Council member; Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn; Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright; and representatives of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and New York State Senator John Flanagan. The event included performances by the student Gospel Choir and last year’s Spoken Word Contest winner, Zoe Sumner.

“Stony Brook strives to create an environment that welcomes all,” said Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. “This new complex was designed not simply to house and feed students, but to give them a space where they can engage as part of the Stony Brook community.  We have solidified our position as SUNY’s largest residential campus.”

Part of a $168 million project designed to meet Stony Brook’s student body needs, the new residence halls accommodate a total of 759 upper-division students in fully air-conditioned single rooms, arranged in a suite-style community. The University now boasts 30 residence halls, 23 apartment-style buildings and more than 10,000 beds.

Symbolizing Stony Brook’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the two new residence halls were named for civil rights heroes César Chávez and Harriet Tubman. Chávez Hall, which opened its doors in September 2016, honors the late Mexican-American labor organizer and civil rights leader César Chávez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Union, and helped organize thousands of farmworkers in California’s Central Valley. Tubman Hall, which opened in January 2017, honors Harriet Tubman, the African-American abolitionist, early promoter of women’s suffrage and humanitarian who escaped slavery in 1849 and became a legendary conductor of the Underground Railroad.

“Each day as students walk through these doors, I hope they embrace the legacy of these two activists and think how they, too, can be agents for change,” President Stanley said.

The residence halls are designed to support various studying habits, featuring smart lounges for group study, quiet areas and multipurpose rooms, all equipped with high-speed wireless. Laundry lounges on each floor allow students to maximize their study time while doing the wash, and fully equipped kitchens in each building feature booth-style seating.

 East Side Dining is the largest dining facility on campus, designed to combine dining, social and academic activities for the campus community. It offers multiple food-court style and dine-in restaurant options, including international and made-to-order foods such as kosher, halal, Southwest, Caribbean and Southern cuisines. It also features an open-concept kitchen and exhibition-style cooking, so customers can see their food being freshly prepared at both dine-in and retail areas. The dining facility offers seating for up to 700 guests.

“Residence halls and dining facilities play a vital role in the lives of students, fostering their development and enriching their academic experience outside the classroom,” said Peter Baigent, Vice President for Student Affairs.

William Kennedy ’17, President of the Resident Hall Association, praised the new facilities as “a place where you feel safe, and a place to build camaraderie when you have a little time to relax.”

About Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University is going beyond the expectations of what today’s public universities can accomplish. Since its founding in 1957, this young university has grown to become one of only four University Center campuses in the State University of New York (SUNY) system with more than 25,700 students, 2,500 faculty members, and 20 NCAA Division I athletic programs. Our faculty have earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the inaugural Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. The University offers students an elite education with an outstanding return on investment: U.S. News & World Report ranks Stony Brook among the top 40 public universities in the nation. Its membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places Stony Brook among the top 62 research institutions in North America. As part of the management team of Brookhaven National Laboratory, the University joins a prestigious group of universities that have a role in running federal R&D labs. Stony Brook University is a driving force in the region’s economy, generating nearly 60,000 jobs and an annual economic impact of $4.65 billion. Our state, country and world demand ambitious ideas, imaginative solutions and exceptional leadership to forge a better future for all. The students, alumni, researchers and faculty of Stony Brook University are prepared to meet this challenge.

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