<p>My son will be living in Monroe, which has no AC. My older son also goes to a southern school where he had no ac last year. He said the best fans were window fans that had 2 separate circulating fans in one unit; one bringing in air, one sending out. Two questions, first, what are best fans anyone has used and second, are window fans allowed?</p>
<p>Window fans are allowed but you may have to place a work order to prepare the window/screen. A great question for your son’s RA who will be communicating with him in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>My son will be living on the third floor of Monroe(!), and I have to admit, I am concerned. I lived in the basement of Yates back in the 1980’s before it had AC, and I remember how hot it was. I know from memory that the heat really does continue well into the month of October in Williamsburg. Even a 70-degree day will be hot for those on the third floor.</p>
<p>Are the individual floor lounges and the attic air conditioned? We’ve thought about providing a loft but I am afraid the air near the ceiling will be suffocating. Can you really not even bring the smallest of window units?</p>
<p>One last thing…he is not a Monroe scholar. How many of the residents are scholars?</p>
<p>I lived in Monroe my freshman year (2006) and it does get quite toasty. The ceilings on the 3rd and 1st floor are super tall (I think something like 15 feet) so a loft is a popular option. I did notice that window fans aren’t really that great at curculating cool air–they just mostly blow around warm air. I would go with a Honeywell floor fan with rotating neck. My hallmates loved them. I had a window unit because of my horrible allergies. But be warned: in order to get permission, you have to fill out forms with ResLife signed off by your family physician stating you need AC for medical reasons. It’s kind of a hassle but worth it if you have a legitimate medical issue. If you install a window unit without permission, you’ll most likely be told to take it out.</p>
<p>Also, I remember the attic and first floor lobby being air conditioned and I am pretty sure the social/study lounges are as well. I wasn’t a scholar and neither was my roommate. There really is no obvious differentiation while living in the dorm.</p>
<p>The best fan is probably one that’s connected to an AC unit …</p>
<p>Humidity will certainly be a part of the problem, so don’t even think of a swamp or evaporative cooler. </p>
<p>If neighboring rooms have AC, a fan connected to a long duct to steal their cool air might work … only half-joking, here. </p>
<p>A multi-speed oscillating floor-standing whole-room fan would be good, with a long power cord - as mentioned, Honeywell makes decent fans - and fans are good white noise, besides, helping mask noises in the dorm. There are also “stacked” fans, with two separate fans, where one fan is horizontal, one vertical, that are supposed to be good for moving air around.</p>
<p>At worst, consider bringing some ice trays or ice packs to freeze in the kitchen - a few pounds of ice in a tray with the fan blowing over it doesn’t do a lot, but it’s better than nothing.</p>
<p>Seriously, Monroe needs to either get retrofitted with central air, or upgrade its electrical system to allow AC units in each room - spending the first month unable to sleep is a misery …</p>
<p>If I had it to do over again, I’d get a doctor’s slip.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>if your doctor is nice, she/he will write your kid a note.</p>
<p>This is what I should’ve done.</p>
<p>The RA and OAs for your student’s hall can tell you if the lounges/kitchens/lobby are air conditioned. Not sure how you’d put A/C in the Monroe lobby without central air (which Monroe doesn’t have) but the lounges and the kitchens could be equipped with window units; just not sure that they are.</p>
<p>Generally about 80 Monroes enroll each year. Not all will elect to live in Monroe. About 150 people live in Monroe so likely only half of its residents give or take are Monroe Scholars.</p>
<p>If your student has a medical reason for a window unit, Res Life can tell you the process you need to go through to get permission for the unit and to have it installed.</p>
<p>Looks like I remembered wrong (Freshman year seems decades ago)! I guess I was mistaken about the lobby because hordes of students hang out on the furniture at all hours. They must have had a high tolerance for heat. I also spent a lot of time in Botetourt which has AC in all of the first floor lounges (although aren’t as nice or historic as Monroe). Plus my mind is probably clouded by the fact that I had AC in my room and chose to study/hang out there instead of the lounges!</p>
<p>Anywho, point is, use a fan and pray that summer ends quickly. The rest of the seasons are pleasant in all the dorms. And chances are your sons will be out and about on campus for most of the daythere is so much to do!</p>
<p>I don’t know about Monroe… I lived in Taliaferro, and there was no AC. The lounge did have AC though</p>
<p>I haven’t found a better fan than an Air King window fan. One of the models with the big blades (16 inch? 20 inch?), and not the dual fans. They’re expensive ($100 range) but they really move a lot of air, not like a lot of other wimpy fans… almost made the 3rd floor in Botetourt tolerable. Almost.</p>
<p>A friendly physician for an AC note is definitely the way to go, though.</p>
<p>I was interested in bringing a loft for my daughters room on the third floor of Monroe hall. I have ordered one but was recently told by a second year student’s mother that we were unable to move the existing bed out of the room. We planned to use the matress but did not think about the frame. I thought that I read somewhere that you could have the bed moved out with a requisition. Does anyone know anything about this?</p>
<p>It is true that the furniture may not be moved out even with a requisition (unless the student is in an overcrowd room–maybe that’s what you read). Also, the mattress is a long twin and the bed frame of the loft will most likely be a twin. </p>
<p>This is from the W&M residence life website:</p>
<p>College beds, mattresses, desks, dressers, chairs, etc. must not be removed from the room.</p>