Rising sophomores submitted contracts for substance-free housing last week, leaving plenty of rooms available for the Class of 2009.
While some students chose substance-free to increase their chances of securing prime real estate, others said the rooms available did not influence their decision to sign the contract.
Rockefeller College received 25 contracts for the 60 available beds in Buyers Hall, Forbes College received 58 contracts for about 70 beds on the first floor of the Main Inn, Butler College received 25 contracts for 100 beds in Lourie-Love Hall, Mathey College received 50 contracts for roughly 75 beds available in entryways six through nine of Blair Hall, and Wilson received 40 contracts for 140 beds offered in 1939 and Dodge-Osborne Halls.
Substance-free beds that have not been taken will become available to rising sophomores in regular draw, with the stipulation that anyone who draws the rooms must sign a substance-free contract.
Mathey College Master Antoine Kahn described his criteria for creating substance-free housing, which he said did not include finding exceptional rooms to entice students to draw substance-free.
"The first idea was to try to find a dorm where we could really make a coherent sub-free living space," Kahn said. "This area [Blair] has its own substance-free bathrooms and entryways, so no one who lives there will have to deal with inconvenience of non-substance-free living."
Master of Wilson College Marguerite Browning said the conversion of Dodge-Osborne is an attempt to offer students drawing substance-free housing a better variety of options.
"They are also some of the nicest real estate in Wilson College, and I want the substance-free housing to be as high-quality as the options for students choosing regular housing," Browning said.
Browning said she was aware of the reputation of the "Zoo," an 11-man suite in Dodge Osborne. "As I'm sure everyone knows, the suites in Dodge-Osborne have a history of being the opposite of substance-free," she said.
The concept of substance-free dorms appealed to some students who said the rooms available did not influence their decision.
Brendan Collins '08, who currently lives in substance-free Joline Hall, cites his current positive experience as his reason to draw into a substance-free room in Blair next year.
"I intended to [do substance-free] before it was announced that the rooms would be in Blair," Collins said.
Chris Simpson '08 is also pleased with what substance-free provides.
"At home, you go to a party, you leave, you go to sleep. Here, you go to a party upstairs, you go to your room, and the party still goes on. Living in substance-free means I can go to the party — but the party never comes to me," Simpson said.
Other students said they placed a premium on real estate, regardless of whether the housing is substance-free. At least one group of 11 Wilson freshmen has banded together in pursuit of the "Zoo," a traditional "party room" that has been designated substance-free this year.
Spencer Lucian '08 said that though he chooses a substance-free lifestyle, he is not interested in rooming in Lourie-Love Hall, the substance-free option in Butler. Rather, he hopes to draw a single in Bloomberg, which is newly available to Butler sophomores next year.
Though many rooms in Lourie-Love have at least comparable floorspace, Lucian said Bloomberg offers perks no gray-brick building on the quad could. Its year-old ergonomic rooms and elevators are a step up from waffle ceilings.
"It's so basic: modernity, AC, as opposed to the ghetto heaters we have now," Lucian said.
He also said he doubts the risk of Bloomberg becoming a party zone because it contains few suites.
"I don't envision wild hall parties going on," Lucian said.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.