Students let off some steam during the day by playing foosball in the refurbished Keck School student lounge.

Veronica Jauriqui

The new calendar year has brought new opportunities for Keck School of Medicine students to enjoy break time during their busy academic days.

A new and improved Keck School of Medicine student social lounge, located on the first floor of the McKibben Building, opened on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in response to student requests for enhanced lounge amenities.

In an e-mail to students, Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito announced the opening of the lounge, which is used as an active gathering place.

"In response to your comments and suggestions, we've made a number of upgrades that make the lounge a much more pleasant place in which to take a break and hang out with friends, get something to eat, and watch TV or play a little foosball," he stated. "I'm envious—I wish I had a lounge like this near my office."

The lounge contains a pool table, foosball table and television. A microwave oven will be added soon, and vending machines are located a few steps away.

The committee to manage the refurbishment included Donna Elliott, associate dean for student affairs; Donna Poole, director of multidiscipline teaching facilities; Steve Hole and Melissa Kennedy, Year 1 class co-presidents; and Ryan O'Shea and Ashley Prosper, Year 2 class co-presidents.

"The new student lounge is great. From the new furniture to the new television to the spirited SC decals on the wall, it is a fabulous new space," said Prosper. "The lounge is now a beautiful, functional space to relax, commune with fellow students and clear our heads before getting back to studying. I can't thank our deans enough for not only making these improvements, but involving us in the process."