Editorial: Fresh Flavor at Bearcade

Change is good. In fact, sometimes it's been a long time coming. The Bearcade, UC Berkeley's very own campus dungeon, has been crying for a makeover for years. ASUC President Manuel Buenrostro's vow to make it profitable may prove successful, but he must first solidify his plan, convince local vendors to sign on and add features to the planned lounge area.

Walking into the Bearcade, it's clear the center caters to a very specific demographic: male gamers. On any given day, around a fourth of the machines that line the walls are occupied; the only others in that single room are the bored cashiers and paltry audience that the gamers gather. It's no wonder that up until last year, the Bearcade had been losing money. Making the area more attractive to the general student body would go a long way toward making it a profitable operation.

That's not to say all the games should be discarded; some of the more popular and social games should be kept for the Bearcade's loyal group of patrons. Buenrostro's plan to keep the pool table is a good choice. But as it is right now and for the number of students it serves, the arcade is a waste of space and student money. So the plans to introduce Gelateria Naia and turn the Bearcade into a lounge are miles ahead of a simple arcade.

The problem is, nothing is for sure. Gelateria Naia hasn't made any formal commitments, nor has Fentons Creamery, another possible partner. ASUC officials need to make an effective sale to these businesses and really push the student angle. They must produce physical plans for the new center, integrate campus systems such as AirBears into the plans and designate space for a few video games. Of course, until they start drawing blueprints, there isn't anything to critique and improve. But this project is only going to fly if officials like Buenrostro commit to a specific plan to which their constituents can hold them accountable.