<p>Hey Kyle,</p>
<p>"Keefee"???</p>
<p>I'll let that one slide for now...</p>
<p>Anyway, let me start my response with a summary of some of the features of Keefe Hall. Built in 1999, Keefe Hall is divided into "living groups", or people who share common interests. Currently, there is the First-Year Wellness floor, Dry Surfers floor, Brothers of Lafayette floor, German floor, Spanish floor, and Volunteer floor (I think that is all of them!). Each "living group" has its own piece of the building, with private bathrooms and a spacious commons area in addition to the HUGE commons area downstairs for all to take advantage of as a quiet study space. There are TV's in every lounge, couches, armchairs, and a kitchen area with a stovetop, microwave, and cabinets. First-Year Wellness (FYW) is the only living group in Keefe Hall with a ping-pong table (BONUS!). BTW, just know that the entire building is considered "Wellness", not just FYW (if I didn't make that clear enough).</p>
<p>As for living accomodations, Keefe Hall has air conditioning (MAJOR BONUS!) and carpeting in every room. Most rooms are doubles (Resident Advisors on every floor get a single to themselves). The bathrooms are either private singles which can be locked or doubles which can also be locked. They are cleaned on a daily bases, except on weekends...the custodians (Terrie and Don) deserve a break on weekends for all the hard work they put in to keep Keefe Hall in pristine condition!</p>
<p>The floors are co-ed, meaning male doubles and female doubles are right next to each other. I find this setting to be most natural for me. None of us on the floor really has a problem being around the other sex (it actually makes for some "interesting" conversations 3 o'clock in the morning!).</p>
<p>In response to the questions you posed in your post...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>For the most part, all of the living groups go their separate ways. This is not to say that we don't get together on occasion in Keefe Commons for some food (usually pizza), especially the week before finals. I have made great friends with kids on the other floors because I have made the effort...most of the kids on FYW have friends elsewhere in the building. </p></li>
<li><p>Sixteen students on FYW does not feel small in any way. It is, in my opinion, the perfect amount for us to get to know each other well over the course of two semesters. Most importantly, we know that we can rely on each other. The great thing about living in a community of sixteen students is that I know we will remain close friends for the rest of our time at Lafayette. While I am thinking of it, let me point out that there is no one type of person living on FYW. We have superstar atheletes, musicians, and scholars with varying interests and personalities who come from all walks of life, yet we all manage to get along quite well.</p></li>
<li><p>I was kind of worried that I would be separating myself from the Lafayette community by living in Keefe FYW. Let me assure you that there is no stigma attached to living in FYW, especially once your friends realize how amazingly nice Keefe Hall is! The only negative might be that Keefe Hall is sometimes referred to as the "Nerd Dorm". Trust me, the other residence halls have worse names!</p></li>
<li><p>Ok, here it is, time for the "all-important drinking questions". Let me start out by saying that drinking really isn't that big a deal in college. It is overly-hyped, especially by freshman, but soon becomes just one of many social activities available on campus. I will not lie to you...there is drinking that goes on in Keefe Hall on the weekends. Compared to other residence halls, however, the "parties" are restricted to individual rooms and are more private in nature. No loud music, screaming people, drunk floormates barfing all over the bathroom sink. Stuff like that happens in South College, which is a very nice dorm (don't get me wrong), but is also know as the "Party Dorm". However, I'm sure you knew that already from reading up on residence life at Lafayette.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You see, most of the students who pick FYW really aren't against college drinking (a few are, mind you). I chose FYW because the living accomodations are amazing for a college residence hall, not because I am morally against drinking before you are 21. You are required to sign a contract that states you won't drink. If you get caught and written up for underage drinking, you could get thrown out of Keefe Hall. I know most RA's aren't that strick about drinking (heck, our RA really wouldn't care if he saw us drinking...he chooses to ignore it as long as it isn't posing any danger to or disturbing anyone).</p>
<p>I hope I didn't just scare you away with that rant...please understand that the "drinking situation" in Keefe is nowhere near the situations in other residence halls. You can actually get your work done in your room on weekends, whereas in other dorms most students head to the library.</p>
<p>I strongly encourage you to visit Lafayette's website for more information on Keefe Hall and the other residence halls on campus at <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/index.php%5B/url%5D">http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/index.php</a>. I see you might already have done so, but make sure to give it another glance. Click on any of the links to the left (for example, "Residence Halls" >>> "special interest groups" or "view residence hall specifications") to find out which residence hall is best for you.</p>
<p>BTW, it was a great idea for you to take advantage of CollegeConfidential, livejournal, and that other book we can't name on this board (I know which one it is...I actually have it with me in college, and I know admissions has looked at it as well...it is pretty accurate!). A smart student such as yourself who has done the research deserves great living accomodations at Lafayette. To ensure you get your top choice, send back the survey ASAP! Rooms are assigned in the order the surveys are received.</p>
<p>Hey, come to think of it, it is very possible that I will be your Resident Advisor next year if you decide to live in Keefe FYW. I am currently going through the application process to become an RA, and if I am offerred a position, I will choose Keefe FYW as my top floor assignment. Just a thought...even if I don't RA on Keefe FYW, I"m sure we'll get in touch within the first few days on campus (look my room assignment up...I so look forward to meeting all the students I have been responding to on these boards!).</p>
<p>If you have any further questions, just "holla"!</p>
<p>J</p>