Tensions ran high in the Wolf Den on Monday when the Loyola University Community Action Program met for what some members considered an opportunity to secure the future of their organization.

On Nov. 28, co-curricular programs director Chris Cameron informed Rick Yelton, LUCAP adviser, that the organization would have to vacate its Wolf Den office space by Dec. 15 to make way for upcoming renovations. They would temporarily relocate to a “swing space” in the former New Student Orientation office.

Yelton said he was “taken off-guard” by the “off the cuff meeting” he had with Cameron on Wednesday.

“We essentially sort of saw each other in passing (when Cameron informed him),” he said. “I was walking past him, not prepared.”

The unexpected encounter prompted a meeting with Cameron during LUCAP’s usual Monday meeting time. Members implored Cameron for assurance that LUCAP has a space with “four walls and a door” secured in the re-vamped Danna Center. Unable to provide a definitive answer, Cameron agreed to a follow-up meeting to be held Friday, Dec. 7.

Leading up to this agreement was a presentation by Cameron, along with assistant director of co-curricular programs Jessica Murphy, followed by a discussion among the attendees. Cameron showed PowerPoint presentations on the architectural history of the Danna Center and what lies ahead for the space to “build a larger context as to what we’re talking about,” he said.

The subsequent discussion touched on different points, but the pervading sentiment among the group seemed to be that of uncertainty.

LUCAP president Kathleen Warner, Spanish junior, initiated the discussion by posing a question: “What is the plan for LUCAP?”

Warner, along with LUCAP chairwoman Danielle Geaubert, sociology senior, began by articulating the organization’s needs.

She cited the need for a safe, secure space to house controversial events or discussions in the group’s pursuit of social justice, and the need for an inviting space for members. She then said that with these needs in mind, assurance of a secured space is imperative.

“It’s so important as an organization to get rid of the question mark and know whether there will be a LUCAP office or not,” Geaubert said. “Leaving the space in jeopardy is not something we want.”

She then proposed an ultimatum to Cameron.

“We are not willing to move into the New Student Orientation office until we have a place within the Danna Center renovations.”

Cameron later addressed the demand, saying, “We are asking you to move to a swing space to make something larger happen.”

He stressed throughout the meeting that the Danna Center renovations have been a very “fluid” process, with plans for the building not set in stone.

More discussion ensued, ultimately ending with the two parties agreeing to meet on Friday.

“I would rather leave some of this open-ended,” Cameron said regarding the discussion. “It’s a lot for me to take in. Friday I will have an answer. I will do what I need to do on my part.”

After the meeting, some people still felt uncertain about LUCAP’s future.

“I still don’t know who’s going to secure our space,” Gaubert said. “Our goal is to have a LUCAP space secured -long-term space.”

Although she left unsatisfied, Gaubert feels some sense of accomplishment and hope for the follow-up meeting.

“We’re closer to meeting that goal,” she said. “What seems like what should happen is Chris Cameron will tell us who can guarantee us space in writing and how to make that happen.”

Warner also feels like the meeting set a discussion in motion.

“I think we started a dialogue, and I hope the dialogue continues,” she said. “I felt very proud to be with LUCAP. (The members) thought about what we needed as an organization and were going to stand by it no matter what.”

Cameron also echoes that the meeting with LUCAP is part of the fluid nature of the Danna Center renovations.

“It went well,” Cameron said. “I feel like we all walked away understanding that it was the beginning of a conversation.”

Cameron and LUCAP still hope to meet Friday, although they have set no definite time or place for the meeting.

Lauren LaBorde can be reached at [email protected].