Maggie Lile, features editor

If you stumble into Hagfors 111 and find a sewing machine, a 3D printer, some yarn and other creative remains, you might ask yourself, “What’s going on here?” Take a seat, look around and then sit down to enjoy the newly revived Augsburg Makerspace by asking a question, grabbing some string or even making a friend. 

Augsburg student Seán Gaffaney has reopened the door for students craving a creative outlet. After doing some investigating into the old makerspace, Gaffaney realized this was something worth bringing back. “The last time the Makerspace here was open was in 2019, a couple of years before I started here. I love to make things and, as a result, have had a lot of experience working with a variety of tools. I poked my way through the equipment that was there in Spring 2023 after an electronics lab and thought that it was a waste to have so many tools in a dark room, unused,” they said in an interview with the Echo. “I think students should have an opportunity to learn new skills; that’s my biggest motivation.”  

With the idea in mind, Gaffaney soon got to work. “Initially, I started working on my own projects in the space, focusing on making jewelry and 3D printing and sorting through the densely packed cupboards,” they said. After the process of sorting, cleaning and organizing the space was completed, the Physics department finally approved the space last semester. As if this wasn’t a challenge enough as it is, Gaffaney is also taking on the responsibilities of managing the makerspace alone, alongside juggling their coursework. 

So what can students expect from the makerspace? “The main topics we are focused on are electronics, sewing, and 3D printing [and] modeling, though we have a wide variety of tools as well as free yarn,” says Gaffaney, explaining all that the newly rejuvenated makerspace has to offer. “Students should bring along an idea for a creative project, a desire to learn new skills, [or] show up with a project they want to chat about.”

Not only are we here as students to learn about history, math, chemistry, art, physics, communication — the list goes on — but we are also here to learn about the things that don’t fit into those strictly defined academic categories. “My goal is to give people the opportunity to learn new skills because I believe that knowing a variety of skills adds up over time to build better creative thinkers,” Gaffaney stated in support of their creation. “I also think that there is utility in knowing how to problem solve and make things, and building a community with diverse skills results in a community that can better adapt to change and thrive in the face of adversity.”

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m., stop in to Hagfors 111 to flex your creative muscles and make the space yours.