By Natalia Tomczak
News Editor
An email was sent to students who were supposed to live in the Townhouses East this semester on July 30, communicating that, due to issues with the fire alarm system, they would have to relocate. The estimated completion date for these changes is Oct. 1.
“When I got the email, I was definitely really stressed immediately,” said sophomore elementary and English education student Bridget Haney. Haney is currently living in Phelps Hall as a result of the issues.
“It was so soon before school had started, and as a transfer student I had already been overwhelmed picking housing in the first place, not really knowing campus. But ultimately I was happy it didn't happen once we had moved in instead,” Haney added.
In the email students received, Tina Tormey, executive director of Residential Education, Housing and Dining, communicated that “These issues necessitate an immediate, unplanned upgrade to the system, as the safety of our residential students is our top priority.”
The email stated, “There is sufficient available housing on campus, and we will make every effort to accommodate— but cannot guarantee— your preferred building or room type.”
Additionally, the College is prorating student housing costs from move-in through Oct 1. Students who temporarily moved to other campus housing options and remain on campus will also receive priority room selection during the next housing selection.
Students were given the opportunity to select a new room from the spaces on campus that were available by logging onto the portal during their assigned time slot on Aug 4. If students didn’t select a spot by the end of the day on Aug. 6, they would be reassigned to an available room.
Student staff assigned to Townhouses East were reassigned as well.
Students with housing accommodations provided through the College’s Accessibility Resource Center were automatically reassigned to new spaces that would meet their needs on Aug 3.
Additionally, students living within driving distance from the College who preferred to commute were instructed to email Housing by the end of the day on Aug. 6, and informed that they may cancel their dining selection for the duration of the academic year by the end of the day on Aug. 6 as well.
Many students have adapted to housing options originally unpreferred or have decided to commute on such short notice.
Sophomore graphic design student Riley Morrell explains that it has been an adjustment living on the tenth floor of Travers. “During move-in I mostly just felt out of place. Especially since I lived in the towers my freshman year. I felt like I already paid my towers dues and just wanted some air conditioning.”
Junior graphic design student Sydney Vilensky is hopeful, despite being temporarily relocated to the tenth floor of Travers. “The towers were the only things available when my slot came, which was expected. I definitely wasn’t excited at first, but as someone who’s living in the towers a second year, I’ve learned to appreciate the location of where they are. The heat isn’t ideal, but otherwise it’s really not so bad,” she said.
In spite of less than ideal circumstances, students are adapting to this temporary situation and will be back to living in the Townhouses East by the estimated date of Oct. 1, according to Tormey.
