Students Make a Satisfying Upgrade to Better Dorms

Alainna Earl

By Kenneth Young (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Sophomore Brandon Wood spent his first year in Carpenter Hall.

“I disliked how hot it was and the Carroll room was awful,” he said. “But I did like some of the R.A.s, who I became friends with.”

So much so that he became an R.A. himself, in Williams Hall.

“What I like about Williams is that I live there for free and have my own room,” he said. “However, I dislike how hot it gets. Also, the Wi-Fi and phone reception is awful.”

Wood is not the only student who holds mixed opinions about their earlier and later dorm experiences.

Sophomore Kristin Gerenger lived in Carpenter Hall for her freshman year as part of the Living Learning Community, a freshman seminar where participating students live on the third floor of Carpenter Hall and participate in community services.

“I didn’t like how dirty the microwave rooms would get,” she said. “However, I did like that there was plenty of parking out front. I also liked living in the learning community because it made my adjustment to college a little easier.”

Sophomore Darren Jones disliked the quality of the living situation he had while living in Carpenter Hall.

“I was upset that the money we paid didn’t go toward cleaning the bathrooms more thoroughly or providing better food in the café,” he said. “I liked how social everyone was. Back in Carpenter, we didn’t have any living room or kitchen, we were forced to get out and around town more often. We spent most of the time either going out to restaurants or spending time in the underground.”

Junior Alainna Earl was a resident of Gooding Hall her freshman year.

“I disliked how the guys lived in our hall and it was disgusting,” she said. “Gooding didn’t have a log-in when I was a freshman, so it was easier for people to sneak in past quiet hours and make a lot of noise. The second floor was close-knit, like a family. We had our doors open and walked in each other’s rooms.”

Gerenger is now a resident in Malmberg Hall.

“I like my current dorm because I have a bathroom and microwave in my room that I have to share with just my roommate,” she said. “I dislike the parking lot for Malmberg because there is not enough spots and I have to park my car on the other side of the campus sometimes.”

This year, Earl lives in Zimmerman Hall.

“I like the way it is set up, it feels more like my own space more than other places did,” she said.

A drawback is that many times your roommate is someone you don’t know.

“The roommate spectrum is harder in Zimmerman because even though you live in a large room you’re more engaged with each other,” she said. “Everything matters more. “

Jones believes his living situation is better now that he lives in Zimmerman Hall.

“I like how we can cook in our rooms and also how clean our facilities are,” he said. “I really wish we had an elevator, though. There are some days when I am deciding whether I should actually go out and be productive, or stay in my room so I don’t have to climb up all the stairs to get back in my room.”