Renovations should focus on dorm rooms

Last year, students left Towers and North expecting the interior of the dorms would be renovated during the summer. Incoming freshmen expected newly re-done interiors in these two areas. When students arrived on campus this fall, the renovations were vastly different than expected. Notably absent from the renovation project was any substantial work on the interior of the actual rooms. Residents in Towers were greeted by hallways and stairwells that received new floor tiles, a drop ceiling and painted walls. With the addition of a drop ceiling in the hallways, new brighter lights were also added. The study lounges were repainted with a few minor changes. Each building was equipped with its own stove and microwave. The bathrooms were also expanded and countertops added to the sinks. All of these changes have certainly improved the atmosphere of the dorms, but lacking is any renovation to the most important aspect of dorm life. The average college student can be assumed to spend a great deal of time in their dorm room. However, the rooms in Towers are in almost the exact same condition as when they were vacated last spring. Renovations actually occurring in the rooms consisted of giving each room two internet and phone jacks, equipping every room with a sprinkler, and the replacement of smoke detectors. In light of past events such as the fire at Seton Hall, I applaud the university for ensuring each room is safe and equipped with a sprinkling system. However, in each room, the ceiling tiles are still torn up and falling down. The floor tiles were not replaced. The walls still read of memories from previous residents, since they were not painted. The heating system is still antiquated. Individual heating controls are non-existent and one room controls the heat system for each side of the floor. The old, dark florescent lights still barely illuminate the rooms. Certainly, the summer was only three months long and the construction companies were clearly pressed for time. In view of the fact that time was scarce, I would have hoped priorities would have been given to renovating the interior of the rooms. Some work was needed in the hallways to put in piping for the sprinklers, but the rooms should have been improved first and then if time existed, the hallways and stairwells. This would have resulted in money better spent. Having a room that is good to live in is much better than having a hallway that is nice to stand in. Several years ago the university renovated the exterior and windows of Towers. Now the University has renovated the stairs, hallways, and lounges of Towers, but how much longer will it be before the rooms are renovated? One would hope this would occur soon, yet as a result of financial restrictions I see very little hope of any future renovations. Renovations can also be viewed as incomplete in North campus. While North did get new windows in their rooms, very little was done to the interior of the rooms or to the bathrooms. North campus houses nearly 1,300 students and Towers houses approximately 1,000 students. The university had the chance to give a large percentage of its on-campus residents better rooms, yet this decision was not done. Even in the hallways and stairwells, where renovations supposedly took place, original walls and ceiling tiles in disrepair still exist. It is unfortunate that even in areas of the buildings being renovated, spots were missed. It can only be hoped these errors were a victim of time constraints and will be fixed in the future. A further consequence of renovations is a reduction of the number of people that can live in the area. One double room on each floor was turned into a single because extra closet space was needed. In addition, the suite 001 rooms, which previously housed two residents, were replaced with a vending machine room on each floor. Although not a significant reduction in residency, I hope these changes do not further contribute to future housing shortages. Another victim of renovations are the small dining units that were unique to Towers. The end of an era of small kitchens became official with the building of another massive dining unit, designed to serve all of Towers and Husky Heights. Much of what made Towers a unique community to live in was the fact that the small dining units provided students with a personal chance to interact with cooking staff and other residents in Towers. These small units allowed chef managers to cater to individual eating preferences of their residents. On their web page, the Department of Residential Life notes, "Towers remains its own small community and with major renovations occurring this summer, the area promises to become an even better place to live in the future." Many of the students that I have talked to who lived in Towers last year would respectfully disagree. With the loss of the small dining units, much of the community that made Towers special is gone. The renovations done to the interior were not major, as the most important aspects students expected to be renovated-the rooms-were not even touched. UConn has always stated the university will attract the best and the brightest students by constructing new buildings and renovating the old. If this is so, renovations must be complete and thorough. Capital improvements matter, but they must be done properly. After years of having a nice new exterior, at least some attention has been given to the interior. Hopefully, UConn will finish the interior renovations to Towers and North that were started last spring. The verdict on the new interiors: Incomplete and as a result, unsatisfactory. Let's finish the job with the students' interests in mind.

http://www.reslife.uconn.edu/