Jan. 7, 2002

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University's Benson Memorial Center announced Friday's Grand Opening of "The Bronco," an alternative location on campus for students, faculty, staff, administration and alumni to come together to share community experiences. With the start of a new year and a new academic quarter, "The Bronco" will provide the university community a location to socialize, eat and socialize and build relationships with others on campus.

"The Bronco" replaces California Fresh, which has been under renovation since spring 2001 and has been an ongoing project involving various members of the University community. A critical goal during the renovation process was to represent the entire Santa Clara University community in the materialization of "The Bronco." Thus, student involvement from conception through the implementation of the project has been critical to the dynamic social environment that the new facility will offer. Input from and involvement of students has been indispensable in the rebuilding process.

"I am very pleased to see that undergraduate students at Santa Clara University demonstrate leadership of the whole person through Conscience, Competence and Compassion. This joint effort shows that the University community can rally together to support student concerns," said Paul Locatelli, S.J., President of Santa Clara University.

The Bronco is intended to appeal to a variety of guests by offering several environments in one. Dividing walls that strategically separate the facility interior enable this vision. For those looking for a lively, entertaining experience, the regularly scheduled variety of bands and spinning DJs will cater to them. "The Bronco" is designed to encourage social interaction of the SCU community and offers an alternative to office meetings between professors and students or staff.

"The Bronco will be a significant addition to SCU life as it offers a unique environment that contributes to the value of community that the University prides itself on." - Joseph McNally, President, Associated Students of Santa Clara University.

It is hoped that "The Bronco" is a place where the community will continue to come together to enjoy what it has to offer! Hours of operation for "The Bronco" are 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. everyday, except Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, when the venue will remain open until 2 a.m. Food service will begin every night at 8:00 p.m.

Benson Memorial Center
Benson Memorial Center is the heart of campus life at Santa Clara University for students, alumni, faculty, administration, and guests to share in community experiences. It offers many services, some of which include the University Bookstore operated by Barnes and Noble, Mission City Federal Credit Union, and The Career Center. Since opening its doors in 1963, Benson Center has undergone many renovations. Today, Benson Memorial Center houses twelve meeting facilities, three food service venues, and over twenty student and administrative offices. It hosts an average of 6,000 events, meetings, and conferences a year. The Benson Memorial Center is located to the south end of the Santa Clara University campus in Santa Clara, California.