University presses play

Gaming Lounge starts here

Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Javelina Gaming Lounge, a new addition to TAMUK’s recreational (Rec) sports.

The Javelina Gaming Lounge is located on the first floor of James C. Jernigan Library, Room 123. Hours of operation are from 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

It is equipped with multiple gaming consoles, flat screen TVs, 10 state-of-the art gaming PCs and more. The Javelina Gaming Lounge is a place for students to gather, play video games, hang out with friends or simply unwind.

“It provides this chance for somebody who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity whether it is on other parts of campus or in their own homes to play with the latest gaming equipment and play in one of the coolest environments ever,” Director of TAMUK’s Rec Sports Ian Brown said.

Brown said the idea of a gaming lounge had been in discussion since March 2020 but was not actually created until February 2021. 

He also mentioned this could not be possible without the help of Director of Student Activities, Erin McClure, John Salazar, Josh Hale, Graduate Assistant Aaron Rodriguez and Mario Martinez.

“Everybody brought different, unique talents to this, whether it was the technical aspects of the computers and the specifications we needed and making sure it worked with our network, to the way the lounge looked,” Brown said. 

The Javelina Gaming Lounge is available for currently enrolled students. Students who would like to hang out in the lounge are required to swipe their student identification card. 

“The gaming lounge brings the university students together. It is a good place for them to get along through playing video games,” junior Joshua Monsivais said.

Although most of the systems are first-come, first-serve, students can make reservations online. 

Students can also check how many individuals are in the gaming lounge at any time by going online at tamuk.edu/recsports and clicking on the registration portal.

“The gaming lounge will bring social opportunities, more so it’ll allow students to play games, unwind and make friends,” Intramural Sports Supervisor Mercy Garcia said. “We encourage students to come out and play.”

For more information, go online or visit TAMUK’s rec sports’ Instagram page @tamukrecsports.