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Students are already occupying the Anderson Student Center, but its official opening is still a week away.

Junior Evan Shrader, a Tommie Central employee, said it is a privilege to be inside early.

“It’s an honor to be able to be here while the building is in its early stages (and) help be a foundation for what’s going to be happening in the next few weeks,” Shrader said.

Besides Tommie Central, students from leadership organizations including Aquinas Yearbook, Undergraduate Student Government, HANA and St. Thomas Activities and Recreation were able to move into their offices Monday in the Student Leadership Center. IRT and Food Services also have students working in the building.

“I wish more students had the opportunity to go in early just to make it feel like home,” said Vang Khang, president of HANA. “I’m really lucky. It’s really cool to see it come alive.”

Although most of the center is completed, there are still parts that need to be finished before the opening.

Mary Ann Ryan, associate vice president for student affairs, said the staircase is not finished yet and the center is waiting on the delivery of pool tables, dart boards, and shelving for some of the storage units. IRT also has some work left to do in the building.

“It’s the finishing touches on the building. We’re almost there,” Ryan said.

Some students, like sophomore Jackson Penning, do not mind having to wait.

“The soft opening is next week, so it’s not that big of a deal… (but) to see the final product will be a nice treat,” Penning said.

Junior Jewel Matsch also said she is “fine with waiting to see it.”

“I can wait eight days or however long,” Matsch said.

Students that have already seen the center think that the reaction to its opening on Jan. 17 will be positive.

“A senior will be a little bit jealous, but at the same time will be going, ‘Oh my gosh, this is such a radical change from what we had before,’” Shrader said. “Someone who’s in their first year here might just go, ‘Oh, a new student center, great. I’m glad I got to see it.’”

Shrader said he experienced “a little bit of shock and awe” upon seeing the center for the first time.

“It’s a great addition to campus, and I don’t think there’s one person here that could legitimately say otherwise,” Shrader said.

Ryan said that without students’ help, the center wouldn’t be as close to completion as is it now.

“We appreciate all the wonderful students who have contributed to opening up this building because it’s a big job.”

Rita Kovtun can be reached at kovt1547@stthomas.edu.