Student organization heads say they’ve got an age-old gripe that needs an age-old solution: They just ain’t got enough space.

They say, and most agree, that the Memorial Union is simply not big enough to accommodate all the student organizations that need office space. What’s more, different organizations have different needs. Some want large open areas for meetings. Some want smaller, private offices with actual doors to conduct their business. Whatever the case, it’s plainly clear that the one-room office in the renovated Union that gives each organization a flat surface, some cubby holes and a couple of chairs is woefully inadequate.

Some blame Union officials. Others blame a lack of funds to tack on some additional Union space.

But there seems to be a fundamental question here that has escaped, at least apparently, most involved: Why is it that every student office has to be crammed into an already space-depleted Union? We know the theory that student organizations should be housed in the students’ Union, but when it comes down to it, is it really that important that all our organizations be located under one roof?

Does the Basket Weaving Club member really need to have spitball access to the Water Polo Club? Naw.

Accordingly, there’s a good solution here. Farm out the student organizations across campus. There’s all kinds of nooks and crannies in just about every building that would make great individualized student offices.

The Cricket Catching Club could have the broom closet in the basement of Hamilton Hall. The Cigar Club could have a vacant philosophy professor’s office in Ross Hall. Sure, members might have to have a paint day, but that would help them take ownership of their office.

The point is this: There’s got to be unused office space out there in Iowa State land. We just moved handfuls of departments and a whole college into the renovated Catt Hall. They came from somewhere.

These little holes in the walls don’t have to be of primo office-space quality, since we are, after all, lowly students. But it’s to everyone’s benefit to make use of all university facilities in ways that benefit students. Here’s a chance to do just that.