Bakersfield College will soon have its own mini arcade.

The Student Government Association, which controls the student lounge, next to the coffee cart in the cafeteria, is expected to turn it into a game room.

Don Turney, dean of students and SGA adviser, said that they will lease some of the games and buy some of the games. He said that the company that will lease the games to BC will not want monthly fees, rather, it will split its earnings from the game room with SGA.

He said the games they are planning to buy will cost anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000 total, which is be funded by Senate Bill 135, which allows BC to collect a $1 fee per unit up to five units. Turney said this money has been taken since 1991, and it can only be used to improve the campus center.

In regard to when the room will open, he said that “barring any unforeseen roadblocks, it probably will open with a month.”

Turney also mentioned the SGA is pursuing putting an Internet cafÇ somewhere within the cafeteria area, either on the south side of the Fireside room or in the room behind the student lounge.

At the beginning of the semester there were signs outside room that read “Student quiet area” in big letters, “Open 8-5 p.m.” They have since been taken down.

Carla Reyes, SGA department assistant, said, “The room used to be a student lounge where students could play board games or use computers on their free time.”

Reyes mentioned that misuse of the room is part of the reason why the lounge isn’t open now.

“Someone kept taking memory cards from the computers,” she said.

Staffing issues were also a concern. “Finding students to staff the room during the hours of operation has also been difficult,” she said.

Turney said that SGA has found a way to hire a federal Work Study student to oversee the game room.

BC student Erika Montano said the room “should be available to the students, and games should be uploaded to the computers to be used for their free time.”

Student Eva Vaca took an opposing view: “It’s not a necessity. There are other ways for students to spend their time.” Student Sandra Picaso said: “I hardly have time between classes to use the room, but I see how it could benefit others.”