<p>I am an incoming freshmen assigned to Harris Hall on the third floor. However, I went around Emory the other day and looked at the other halls and stuff, Harris Hall looks like to be the oldest. I never went inside but compared to the others, it looks realllllllly old. I saw some pictures of the other halls and such and they look so much nicer, for example, Turman Hall. I feel like the inside will be really dirty and very old and whatnot compared to the others. Can anybody that stayed in Harris give me any heads up or their experience there?</p>
<p>While it does not compare to others, it isn’t that bad at all. My only problem with it is that it’s dim (as in hallway lighting). However, it has a huge parlor, a small computer lab, and several little gathering spaces on each floor. Also, the rooms are of reasonable size (they have about the same design as those in complex, which are standard, but actually kind of nice when you compare it to places like Dobbs and Alabama, or other institutions for that matter). Also, Harris admittedly has one of the more vibrant social vibes (in terms of level of interaction between students). Also, it shares a courtyard like area w/complex, which means you can crash their social events (they seem to have much more than the average dorm). Even though they are now a sophomore dorm, it seems that, a reasonable amount of interaction between Harris and Complex has been reserved (though I honestly think converting complex to 2nd year housing did decrease it a lot, which is a disservice in some senses as it seems as though the newer freshmen dorms stick to themselves). If you want to see really old and/or small, go to Dobbs, or McTrimble (now they have large rooms, but other than that, it sucks). You’ll get over not living in practically a 4-5 star hotel quickly. It at least has the benefits of being near the library and the quad (though admittedly, w/exception of B-School Einstein’s, not next to dining, but it’s still not far from Cox or the Duc. It hardly matters anyway as it still only takes 2-5 minutes to get there. It’s also easier to get to the village from Harris), which means probably at least a slightly shorter walk to class (unless chem building or psyche in which case everyone else just has to walk down a hill right in front of or next to them. If you are really lazy, the D-shuttle that comes in front of Complex is your friend lol. Even though the route it takes is technically longer, one gets there quicker than walking, but the benefits are hardly worth it). Anyway, I wouldn’t consider it dirty or anything, just older. At least being Harris won’t leave you disappointed by sophomore options, which are okay, but nowhere near as nice as freshmen accommodations (one may be able to make an argument for Woodruff, but barely). The rest will experience a soupbowl effect (good freshmen, bad/mediocre sophomore, good upperclassmen), you won’t experience the quality shock.</p>