nnnu003c!DOCTYPE htmlu003enu003chtml lang=u0022enu0022u003enu003cheadu003enu003cmeta charset=u0022UTF-8u0022u003enu003cmeta name=u0022viewportu0022 content=u0022width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0u0022u003enu003ctitleu003eA Space to Stay: CSU Pueblo Unveils New Student Loungeu003c/titleu003enu003cstyleu003en nn :root {n u002du002dwolfpack-red: #C8102E;n u002du002dwolfpack-navy: #003087;n u002du002dgold-accent: #C89A2E;n u002du002doff-white: #F5F2ED;n u002du002ddark-text: #1A1A1A;n u002du002dmid-gray: #5C5C5C;n u002du002dlight-rule: #D6CFC4;n }nn * { margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box; }nn body {n background: var(u002du002doff-white);n color: var(u002du002ddark-text);n font-family: var(u002du002dwpu002du002dpresetu002du002dfont-familyu002du002dproxima-nova), Arial, sans-serif;n font-weight: 300;n }nn /* HEADER */n .site-header {n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-navy);n padding: 14px 40px;n display: flex;n align-items: center;n gap: 16px;n }n .site-header .wordmark {n color: white;n font-family: var(u002du002dwpu002du002dpresetu002du002dfont-familyu002du002dproxima-nova), Arial, sans-serif;n font-weight: 600;n font-size: 15px;n letter-spacing: 0.08em;n text-transform: uppercase;n }n .site-header .divider {n width: 1px;n height: 28px;n background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);n }n .site-header .section-label {n color: rgba(255,255,255,0.7);n font-size: 13px;n letter-spacing: 0.12em;n text-transform: uppercase;n }nn /* RED ACCENT BAR */n .accent-bar {n height: 5px;n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-red);n }nn /* HERO */n .hero {n position: relative;n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-navy);n overflow: hidden;n }n .hero img {n width: 100%;n height: 560px;n object-fit: cover;n object-position: center top;n display: block;n opacity: 0.75;n }n .hero-overlay {n position: relative;n inset: 0;n background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0,48,135,0.92) 0%, rgba(0,48,135,0.3) 60%, transparent 100%);n }n .hero-content {n max-width: 1100px;n margin: 0 auto;n padding: 50px 32px 40px;n background: #00205B;n color: #ffffff;n border-bottom: 4px solid #F1C845;n}n .kicker {n display: inline-block;n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-red);n color: white;n font-size: 11px;n font-weight: 600;n letter-spacing: 0.16em;n text-transform: uppercase;n padding: 5px 14px;n margin-bottom: 18px;n }n .hero-headline {n font-family: var(u002du002dwpu002du002dpresetu002du002dfont-familyu002du002dproxima-nova), Arial, sans-serif;n font-size: clamp(32px, 4.5vw, 56px);n color: white;n line-height: 1.15;n max-width: 1100px;n margin-bottom: 14px;n }n .hero-deck {n font-size: 17px;n color: rgba(255,255,255,0.85);n font-weight: 300;n max-width: 620px;n line-height: 1.6;n }nn /* ARTICLE BODY */n .article-wrap {n max-width: 1100px;n margin: 0 auto;n padding: 60px 24px 80px;n }nn .byline-row {n display: flex;n align-items: center;n gap: 20px;n padding-bottom: 20px;n border-bottom: 1px solid var(u002du002dlight-rule);n margin-bottom: 36px;n }n .byline-dot {n width: 36px;n height: 36px;n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-red);n border-radius: 50%;n display: flex;n align-items: center;n justify-content: center;n color: white;n font-size: 13px;n font-weight: 600;n flex-shrink: 0;n }n .byline-text { font-size: 13px; 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}n .photo-block.medium { height: 300px; }n .photo-block.short { height: 240px; }n .photo-block.wide { height: 420px; }n .photo-block.square { height: 340px; }nn /* CREDITS FOOTER */n .article-footer {n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-navy);n color: rgba(255,255,255,0.7);n padding: 32px 40px;n font-size: 13px;n display: flex;n justify-content: space-between;n align-items: center;n flex-wrap: wrap;n gap: 12px;n }n .article-footer strong {n color: white;n }n .footer-logo-mark {n width: 32px;n height: 32px;n background: var(u002du002dwolfpack-red);n border-radius: 50%;n display: flex;n align-items: center;n justify-content: center;n color: white;n font-weight: 700;n font-size: 14px;n }nn @media (max-width: 640px) {n .hero img { height: 380px; }n .hero-content {n max-width: 1100px;n margin: 0 auto;n padding: 50px 32px 40px;n background: #00205B;n color: #ffffff;n border-bottom: 4px solid #F1C845;n}n .grid-2col { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }n .grid-3col { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; }n .article-footer { flex-direction: column; text-align: center; }n }nu003c/styleu003enu003c/headu003enu003cbodyu003ennnu003cdiv class=u0022accent-baru0022u003eu003c/divu003ennu003c!u002du002d HERO u002du002du003enu003cdiv class=u0022hero-contentu0022u003en u003cspan class=u0022kickeru0022u003eStudent Life u0026amp; Campusu003c/spanu003en n u003cp class=u0022hero-decku0022u003eCSU Pueblo officially opened its new Student Lounge, a student-driven gathering space featuring arcade games, flexible seating, and programming from SLICE. Students came. They stayed. Some are still there.u003c/pu003en u003c/divu003enu003c/divu003ennu003c!u002du002d ARTICLE BODY u002du002du003enu003cdiv class=u0022article-wrapu0022u003enn u003cdiv class=u0022byline-rowu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022byline-dotu0022u003eCKu003c/divu003en u003cdiv class=u0022byline-textu0022u003en u003cstrongu003eCSU Pueblo Office of Marketing, Communications and Community Relationsu003c/strongu003eu003cbru003en April 30, 2026 u0026nbsp;u0026middot;u0026nbsp; Pueblo, Coloradon u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003cdiv class=u0022body-textu0022u003en u003cpu003eThe ribbon came down and the games went up. On April 30, Colorado State University Pueblo officially opened its new Student Lounge, a space that students helped shape and now get to call their own. Tucked inside the Occhiato Student Center, it is the kind of room that stops you in the hallway, not because of a sign, but because of the noise.u003c/pu003enn u003cpu003ePresident Dr. Rhonda Epper opened the ceremony with remarks that were less ceremonial than honest. u0022We’re facing some tough challenges right now,u0022 she told the crowd of students, staff, and supporters. u0022And yet this new space really fits within our core mission.u0022 That mission is student success, and on this campus, that means building places where students belong before they even know they need them.u003c/pu003en u003c/divu003enn u003cdiv class=u0022pull-quoteu0022u003en u003cpu003eu0022Every campus needs that spot, the place where you run into people you didn’t expect to meet. This is that spot.u0022u003c/pu003en u003cciteu003eMolly Charles, ASG Student Representativeu003c/citeu003en u003c/divu003enn u003cdiv class=u0022body-textu0022u003en u003cpu003eMolly Charles, speaking on behalf of the Associated Students Government, made clear what the lounge is built for. She knows CSU Pueblo students. Many work. Most balance more than a full course load. The commute in, do what they came to do, and leave. u0022This spot changes that,u0022 she said. u0022It gives us a reason to stay.u0022u003c/pu003enn u003cpu003eThe space was built on student feedback and coordinated across departments, Campus Credit Union, and the Auxiliary Services team. Vice President and CFO Garrison Ortiz, a CSU Pueblo alum himself, acknowledged the budget pressures the university faces while making the case for why this still got done. u0022The best part of my job is always keeping students first,u0022 he said. u0022Being able to cut a ribbon on a project like this is an honor.u0022u003c/pu003enn u003cpu003eThe arcade machines came courtesy of Tommy Chavez and High Score Arcade, also a CSU Pueblo graduate, class of 2014. When approached about bringing games to campus, his answer was immediate. u0022When I was a student here, I would have wanted the same thing,u0022 he said. The machines will rotate based on student feedback, semester to semester. A Dance Dance Revolution cabinet was already drawing a crowd before the speeches were finished.u003c/pu003enn u003cpu003eJose Chavez, Student Organization and First Generation Specialist, spoke about what it means for first-generation students specifically. Community is not something that forms automatically, he said. It needs a place. u0022For a community to thrive, we need space, a place to meet, share stories, and communicate ideas and experiences. This new space offers exactly that.u0022u003c/pu003enn u003cpu003eStudents will also have the opportunity to name the lounge. That vote is still ahead. For now, the unofficial name is doing fine.u003c/pu003en u003c/divu003enn u003c!u002du002d SECTION DIVIDER u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022section-ruleu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022rule-lineu0022u003eu003c/divu003en u003cspan class=u0022rule-labelu0022u003ePhoto Essayu003c/spanu003en u003cdiv class=u0022rule-lineu0022u003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003cp class=u0022photo-essay-titleu0022u003eGrand Unveiling u0026mdash; April 30, 2026u003c/pu003enn u003c!u002du002d PHOTO GRID ROW 1: wide single u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022grid-1colu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block wideu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-1-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Wide view of the student lounge with arcade machines and attendees seatedu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eStudents and university leadership gathered for the ribbon cutting in the Occhiato Student Center.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003c!u002du002d PHOTO GRID ROW 2: 2 col u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022grid-2colu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block tallu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-2-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Garrison Ortiz speaks at the podiumu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eVice President and CFO Garrison Ortiz speaks during the unveiling ceremony for CSU Pueblo’s new Student Lounge.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block tallu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-3.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Student representative speaks at CSU Pueblo podiumu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eVP and CFO Garrison Ortiz addresses the crowd, thanking students, sponsors, and the facilities team who delivered the project on time and on budget.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003c!u002du002d PHOTO GRID ROW 3: single wide u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022grid-1colu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block wideu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-4-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022President Epper speaks at the podium in front of SLICE banneru0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003ePresident Dr. Rhonda Epper of CSU Pueblo addresses the crowd during the Student Lounge unveiling.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003c!u002du002d PHOTO GRID ROW 4: 3 col u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022grid-3colu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block squareu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-5-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Student plays Dance Dance Revolution Extremeu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eDance Dance Revolution: Extreme, one of several machines donated by High Score Arcade.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block squareu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-6-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Two students play DDR side by sideu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eStudents step into the space, literally. The DDR cabinet drew players before the ceremony wrapped up.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block squareu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-7-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Student smiles while playing arcade gameu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eSmiles came easy. The lounge is designed to rotate games based on student feedback each semester.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003c!u002du002d PHOTO GRID ROW 5: 2 col u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022grid-2colu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block mediumu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-8-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Student inserts bill into arcade change machineu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eThe arcade machines accept $1 or $5 bills. A QR code on the kiosk offers help for new players.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block mediumu0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-9-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022Two administrators look on during the ceremonyu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003eDr. Marie Humphrey, VP of Student Affairs, and Tommy Chavez of High Score Arcade look on during the ceremony. Chavez, a CSU Pueblo alum who graduated in 2014, donated the arcade machines to the lounge.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003c!u002du002d PHOTO GRID ROW 6: single u002du002du003en u003cdiv class=u0022grid-1colu0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022photo-block tallu0022 style=u0022height:460px;u0022u003en u003cimg src=u0022https://newscsupueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/embedded-4949-10-rotated.jpgu0022 alt=u0022President Epper hands recognition to a student in front of SLICE banneru0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022caption-overlayu0022u003eu003cpu003ePresident Dr. Rhonda Epper and Shauntel Frazier, Executive Director of SLICE, during the ribbon presentation. Frazier and the SLICE team organized the unveiling and coordinated student programming for the new space.u003c/pu003eu003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003enn u003cdiv class=u0022body-textu0022 style=u0022margin-top:44px;u0022u003en u003cpu003eThe lounge is open to all CSU Pueblo students. Programming through SLICE will be announced throughout the semester. Students interested in providing input on future additions, including machine selection, can complete the survey available in the space.u003c/pu003en u003c/divu003ennu003c/divu003ennu003c!u002du002d FOOTER u002du002du003enu003cfooter class=u0022article-footeru0022u003en u003cdiv style=u0022display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;u0022u003en u003cdiv class=u0022footer-logo-marku0022u003eWu003c/divu003en u003cdivu003en u003cstrongu003eColorado State University Pueblou003c/strongu003eu003cbru003en Office of Marketing, Communications u0026amp; Community Relationsn u003c/divu003en u003c/divu003en u003cdiv style=u0022text-align:right;u0022u003en Photography: CSU Pueblo MCCRu003cbru003en Published April 30, 2026n u003c/divu003enu003c/footeru003ennu003c/bodyu003enu003c/htmlu003e