By Lionel Wong

Psst… have you discovered the long-awaited student common room yet?

Its name is Escape, which is a fitting yet naughty choice: the word is fondly used in Malaysian slang to mean the act of playing truant, to be away from where one is supposed to be (not that we promote truancy!).

Escape had its soft opening on Monday Oct 6, 2008 and has been operating for two weeks now. At first it was a trickle of students, mostly from engineering – it’s in their building after all. As word spread and curious students set out looking for the bright red-walled venue, by the second week they were pouring in, stretching the pool game queues and turning the place into a truly buzzing hangout.

Oh yes, we have a pool table. And a TV with ASTRO channels too (sports and variety packages). Perhaps the most wanted things on campus you didn’t realise you wanted.

Pool games are RM2 each, the cheapest you can find anywhere. And if you look around, playing cards are available for free as well. There’s the coffee bar where you can buy food and drinks at reasonable prices, some of which you can’t find in the cafeteria or convenience store. Wi-Fi is available and there are plenty of power points to plug your laptops in.

Escape is currently undergoing a trial run operation before the proper grand opening next year; you will certainly notice that it is not operating at 100 percent yet.

The balcony (upper deck), where there are more seats and power points and a view of the TV, is closed while the structure is being reinforced. There are plans for the menu to be expanded, newspapers and magazines made available, uncushioned seats cushioned, and more ASTRO channels added. In the meantime, the Escape team welcomes any feedback.

Speaking of the team, Escape is run by students (including yours truly) and operates under the Student Council. The student common room – or ‘student lounge’ – has been a wishlist item for Curtin Miri students and a pet project of the Council since 2006. After all the planning, financing and construction, the student community can now enjoy the payoff.

Escape is set to be a great new location for club events. Already this Friday Oct 24, Curtin Music Society will be hosting Music Appreciation Nite, and on the following Friday Oct 31, Escape & Creative Inspiration Club will be hosting Halloween Nite. Meanwhile other clubs – Curtin Football Club is enthusiastic about a football TV night – are working on more upcoming activities at Escape.

So come chill with us, to de-stress after class or to just have a good time. Support us by buying a drink or a slice of cake, and play a game of pool with your friends. With more funds we can gradually make more improvements and additions to our services. Enjoy your escape!

Escape opens 2-10pm, Monday to Friday. Tell us what you think at escape.curtin@gmail.com
or in our facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39621103687