Word is that the incoming class won’t be able to request specific dorms anymore. Instead they can choose to live in one of two options (minus special options like 200 Church, Westco, Subfree and single gender): Freshman-only dorm (Fauver, Clark) or a mixed class dorm (Butts, Nics).
Personally, I think this is beyond lame. While there were definitely problems with the old ranking system (as in if you didn’t get your first choice, chances are you’d get your last), it takes away what I see as a crucial element of choice. Like it or not, our dorms have personalities attributed to them, and while it’s true that the atmosphere in every dorm varies depending on who your hallmates are, being able to have at least a bit of control during the chaotic transition between high school and college was, to me, comforting.
If anything, I think the choices are remarkably unbalanced. The two freshman dorms are, (coincidentally?) the two most recently renovated dorms on campus. Besides, putting the Foss Hill dorms in the same category as the Butts…Well, that’s just not right.
Anyways I just heard this second-hand, if anyone can elaborate, let us know in the comments.
EDIT: Here it is…Thanks, anonymous commenter.
Most importantly, this year’s incoming class will not fill out the same housing application that you completed. Requests for particular halls have become so skewed that we can no longer fill everyone’s first or second choice, and many are getting their third or fourth choice. Rather than raising their hopes about a particular hall and disappointing them, the Student Life Committee of the WSA has approved that the application be changed from ranking their top four choices to instead ask the freshmen to indicate whether they prefer an all freshman hall (Fauver and Clark), or a mixed population hall (Nicolson and Butterfield). In addition, students can indicate their interest in the following community based living options: Westco, single gender floor (Nicolson 5 and 5.5), 200 Church and subfree floor (Butterfield C). They can also indicate how important it is to them to have a single room (approximately 70 are available for the class of 2011, which is only 10% of the class).
Remember that the current room rate structure will be replaced with the residential comprehensive fee next year, and all sophomores and freshmen will pay the same amount, regardless of which building or type of room.
Where the freshmen will end up living:
Only 20% of the class of 2011 will be housed in Foss Hill residence halls (Hewitt will house only sophomores and juniors; half of Westco, and almost half of Nicolson will be held for freshmen). Westco, with 64 spaces for freshmen, will house less than 10% of the class. Nicolson has only 80 spaces for freshmen.22% of the class will live in Fauver.
17.5% of the class will live in Clark.
When you add this to the doubles in Butterfield and 200 Church, 63% of the class will be housed in one room doubles.
Almost all of the 39 spaces in 200 Church will be held for freshmen.
35% of the class will live in Butterfield. That’s one out of every three.Please try to prevent your personal experiences and preferences from coloring the above facts. Most continuing students prefer two room doubles or singles, therefore, very few of them are held for first year students. You can do the pre-frosh a great service by promoting the positives offered by each location.
What’s 200 Church like? Seriously. I requested it. WestCo was my second, but now I’m kind of rethinking that. I feel like maybe I should’ve gone the Butterfield route. But I like how 200 Church seems like a home, both aesthetically and component-wise. Opinions?
What’s 200 Church like? Seriously. I requested it. WestCo was my second, but now I’m kind of rethinking that. I feel like maybe I should’ve gone the Butterfield route. But I like how 200 Church seems like a home, both aesthetically and component-wise. Opinions?
Because the Butts are less requested and have more residents than Foss Hill dorms, people requesting Foss Hill get put in the Butts anyway… it seems like the people who this might be unfortunate for is people who really want to live in the Butts cause it’s a little bit quieter (as far as I know) and who would have gotten it with the old system but who might accidentally get placed somewhere louder and more requested.
Because the Butts are less requested and have more residents than Foss Hill dorms, people requesting Foss Hill get put in the Butts anyway… it seems like the people who this might be unfortunate for is people who really want to live in the Butts cause it’s a little bit quieter (as far as I know) and who would have gotten it with the old system but who might accidentally get placed somewhere louder and more requested.
I think this is a great change, actually. This year I was placed in Clark, which was my fourth choice. I had gotten all invested in the selection process and felt like I got shafted. All I or any pre-frosh can really know, though, is stereotypes which don’t necessarily have any bearing on reality. It turns out I LOVE living in Clark (at least, I love my hall)… I’m an artist and WestCo was my first choice originally so don’t think that I like it because I fit the stereotype. In fact, my experience of Clark is that it’s not at all jock-y. The kids I know here who play sports prefer to be called “athletes,” anyway. It really frustrates me when kids who have been here for a while and have never set foot in Clark still judge it by the stereotypes they learned as a pre-frosh… anyway sorry for the rant. Because someone asked, one thing that I like about Clark is that, as a less-requested dorm, it’s more diverse because all sorts of great people who didn’t get their first and second choices as well as people who wanted to live in Clark are housed here. And yes, I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know some athletes and EVEN a few kids who are joining frats, because had I not been made to live with these kids, I might never have taken a second look at some unfounded prejudices. Y’all claim to be open-minded. Let’s walk the chalk.So, this change will make housing in general a little more diverse and mixed for frosh. Oh, fuck. Seriously, WHY would you ever come to Wesleyan and want to live in a homogeneous environment?Besides, housing for freshmen isn’t really self-selecting anyway, because as anon6’s post said, housing choices are greatly skewed toward the dorms with cool stereotypes (because Wesleyan admits are greatly skewed toward cool), and the result is a lot of people are disappointed and a few people are excited and all the drama isn’t really for any reason because we’re all worth knowing and you can hang out wherever you want, anyway.Okay, so it is kind of cool to pick residences, even if you don’t get your top choices. I feel that. But this isn’t disastrous as some people are making it out to be. Westco and Church are still separate, and they are the frosh options with the most character anyway. Really, I don’t think it even makes that much of a difference. Peace
I think this is a great change, actually. This year I was placed in Clark, which was my fourth choice. I had gotten all invested in the selection process and felt like I got shafted. All I or any pre-frosh can really know, though, is stereotypes which don’t necessarily have any bearing on reality. It turns out I LOVE living in Clark (at least, I love my hall)… I’m an artist and WestCo was my first choice originally so don’t think that I like it because I fit the stereotype. In fact, my experience of Clark is that it’s not at all jock-y. The kids I know here who play sports prefer to be called “athletes,” anyway. It really frustrates me when kids who have been here for a while and have never set foot in Clark still judge it by the stereotypes they learned as a pre-frosh… anyway sorry for the rant. Because someone asked, one thing that I like about Clark is that, as a less-requested dorm, it’s more diverse because all sorts of great people who didn’t get their first and second choices as well as people who wanted to live in Clark are housed here. And yes, I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know some athletes and EVEN a few kids who are joining frats, because had I not been made to live with these kids, I might never have taken a second look at some unfounded prejudices. Y’all claim to be open-minded. Let’s walk the chalk.
So, this change will make housing in general a little more diverse and mixed for frosh. Oh, fuck. Seriously, WHY would you ever come to Wesleyan and want to live in a homogeneous environment?
Besides, housing for freshmen isn’t really self-selecting anyway, because as anon6’s post said, housing choices are greatly skewed toward the dorms with cool stereotypes (because Wesleyan admits are greatly skewed toward cool), and the result is a lot of people are disappointed and a few people are excited and all the drama isn’t really for any reason because we’re all worth knowing and you can hang out wherever you want, anyway.
Okay, so it is kind of cool to pick residences, even if you don’t get your top choices. I feel that. But this isn’t disastrous as some people are making it out to be. Westco and Church are still separate, and they are the frosh options with the most character anyway. Really, I don’t think it even makes that much of a difference.
Peace
this might help reduce stereotypes of dorms though. i lived in clark and it was pretty uncomfortable for me, very jocky, the stereotype was pretty dead on. i think having wes students distributed more or less randomly is better because we don’t get segregated based on interests freshman year.
this might help reduce stereotypes of dorms though. i lived in clark and it was pretty uncomfortable for me, very jocky, the stereotype was pretty dead on. i think having wes students distributed more or less randomly is better because we don’t get segregated based on interests freshman year.
Now that it’s all laid out, this doesn’t seem that bad at all
Now that it’s all laid out, this doesn’t seem that bad at all
This decision was made by the Student Life Committee, which includes some WSA members but also includes the Dean of the College, the Dean of Student Services, the head of Residential Life, and several other Deans and administrators. This decision was made during the March 29th meeting of the Student Life Committee. There was disagreement within the committee over this decision, and in the end, it came down to a vote which was not unanimous.We may have lost the battle, but we can win the war. If there is enough complaint from the student body (especially from the class of ’11), it is always possible the decision can be changed next year for the class of ’12.
This decision was made by the Student Life Committee, which includes some WSA members but also includes the Dean of the College, the Dean of Student Services, the head of Residential Life, and several other Deans and administrators. This decision was made during the March 29th meeting of the Student Life Committee. There was disagreement within the committee over this decision, and in the end, it came down to a vote which was not unanimous.
We may have lost the battle, but we can win the war. If there is enough complaint from the student body (especially from the class of ’11), it is always possible the decision can be changed next year for the class of ’12.
I’m an incoming freshman… and this is really disappointing. Will someone elaborate on the “positives offered by each location”?
I’m an incoming freshman… and this is really disappointing.
Will someone elaborate on the “positives offered by each location”?
This is atrocious.I mean: they chose to come to Wesleyan and now this!
This is atrocious.
I mean: they chose to come to Wesleyan and now this!
Housing Information for Wesfest HostsThank you for serving as a host during Wesfest. In anticipation of the topic of housing coming up with your pre-frosh, we thought it might be helpful for you to have the following information:Changes:Most importantly, this year’s incoming class will not fill out the same housing application that you completed. Requests for particular halls have become so skewed that we can no longer fill everyone’s first or second choice, and many are getting their third or fourth choice. Rather than raising their hopes about a particular hall and disappointing them, the Student Life Committee of the WSA has approved that the application be changed from ranking their top four choices to instead ask the freshmen to indicate whether they prefer an all freshman hall (Fauver and Clark), or a mixed population hall (Nicolson and Butterfield). In addition, students can indicate their interest in the following community based living options: Westco, single gender floor (Nicolson 5 and 5.5), 200 Church and subfree floor (Butterfield C). They can also indicate how important it is to them to have a single room (approximately 70 are available for the class of 2011, which is only 10% of the class). Remember that the current room rate structure will be replaced with the residential comprehensive fee next year, and all sophomores and freshmen will pay the same amount, regardless of which building or type of room.Where the freshmen will end up living:Only 20% of the class of 2011 will be housed in Foss Hill residence halls (Hewitt will house only sophomores and juniors; half of Westco, and almost half of Nicolson will be held for freshmen). Westco, with 64 spaces for freshmen, will house less than 10% of the class. Nicolson has only 80 spaces for freshmen.22% of the class will live in Fauver.17.5% of the class will live in Clark.When you add this to the doubles in Butterfield and 200 Church, 63% of the class will be housed in one room doubles. Almost all of the 39 spaces in 200 Church will be held for freshmen.35% of the class will live in Butterfield. That’s one out of every three. Please try to prevent your personal experiences and preferences from coloring the above facts. Most continuing students prefer two room doubles or singles, therefore, very few of them are held for first year students. You can do the pre-frosh a great service by promoting the positives offered by each location. Thank you again for hosting, and for providing an informed insight into the residential experience for the pre-frosh.
Housing Information for Wesfest Hosts
Thank you for serving as a host during Wesfest. In anticipation of the topic of housing coming up with your pre-frosh, we thought it might be helpful for you to have the following information:
Changes:
Most importantly, this year’s incoming class will not fill out the same housing application that you completed. Requests for particular halls have become so skewed that we can no longer fill everyone’s first or second choice, and many are getting their third or fourth choice. Rather than raising their hopes about a particular hall and disappointing them, the Student Life Committee of the WSA has approved that the application be changed from ranking their top four choices to instead ask the freshmen to indicate whether they prefer an all freshman hall (Fauver and Clark), or a mixed population hall (Nicolson and Butterfield). In addition, students can indicate their interest in the following community based living options: Westco, single gender floor (Nicolson 5 and 5.5), 200 Church and subfree floor (Butterfield C). They can also indicate how important it is to them to have a single room (approximately 70 are available for the class of 2011, which is only 10% of the class).
Remember that the current room rate structure will be replaced with the residential comprehensive fee next year, and all sophomores and freshmen will pay the same amount, regardless of which building or type of room.
Where the freshmen will end up living:
Only 20% of the class of 2011 will be housed in Foss Hill residence halls (Hewitt will house only sophomores and juniors; half of Westco, and almost half of Nicolson will be held for freshmen). Westco, with 64 spaces for freshmen, will house less than 10% of the class. Nicolson has only 80 spaces for freshmen.
22% of the class will live in Fauver.
17.5% of the class will live in Clark.
When you add this to the doubles in Butterfield and 200 Church, 63% of the class will be housed in one room doubles.
Almost all of the 39 spaces in 200 Church will be held for freshmen.
35% of the class will live in Butterfield. That’s one out of every three.
Please try to prevent your personal experiences and preferences from coloring the above facts. Most continuing students prefer two room doubles or singles, therefore, very few of them are held for first year students. You can do the pre-frosh a great service by promoting the positives offered by each location.
Thank you again for hosting, and for providing an informed insight into the residential experience for the pre-frosh.
What about singles? Some freshman strongly prefer having their own room, and still prefer living a community at the same time. Does the new system take that into consideration or is it just based on class-specific and class-general housing?
What about singles? Some freshman strongly prefer having their own room, and still prefer living a community at the same time. Does the new system take that into consideration or is it just based on class-specific and class-general housing?
Xue, this is really terrible news that I refuse to believe until I have a real source.I can’t get pissed off over something you overheard
Xue, this is really terrible news that I refuse to believe until I have a real source.
I can’t get pissed off over something you overheard
No, Hewitt started being all sophomores this year.
No, Hewitt started being all sophomores this year.
Freshmen can live in Hewitt?
Freshmen can live in Hewitt?
I completely disagree. Removing a frosh’s choice of specific dorm building will help to eliminate polarization within the dorms and create a more well-mixed community. I think it is safe to say that most frosh have little to no information about the dorm buildings other than the ‘stereotypes’ or ‘personalities’ around each – and that is how they pick them. If you don’t believe me, check last year’s listserv.
I completely disagree. Removing a frosh’s choice of specific dorm building will help to eliminate polarization within the dorms and create a more well-mixed community. I think it is safe to say that most frosh have little to no information about the dorm buildings other than the ‘stereotypes’ or ‘personalities’ around each – and that is how they pick them. If you don’t believe me, check last year’s listserv.