"Official" Housing Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z Lafayette College
1

<p>Members of the Class of 2011:</p>

<p>Within the next two weeks, you will all be receiving your housing and roommate assignments in the mail. </p>

<p>As a current student, I have access to a restricted section of the Lafayette Residence Life Web page containing PDF files of residence hall floor plans and specific room dimensions. After receiving your housing assignments, feel free to get in contact with me to obtain this information. Just remember to provide your email address so that I can send the PDF files as attachments. If you do not wish to share your email address with everyone, simply send your request via a "private message".</p>

<p>Although I encourage everyone to post their housing-related questions in this thread, you must first check out the Residence Life Incoming Student FAQ page by clicking here: <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/faq.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/faq.php&lt;/a>. There, professional staff members of the Office of Residence Life provide answers to the most common housing questions, so it's definitely worth a look!</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

2

<p>Not exactly housing related, but do you know if the first sem bills are being sent out with the housing info?</p>

3

<p>Basu,</p>

<p>Housing and roommate information will be sent by the Office of Residence Life by mid-July. Fall semester bills will be sent under separate cover by the Controller's Office around the same time.</p>

<p>Since you hail from far away, allow adequate time for mail travel before questioning their arrival.</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

4

<p>Class of 2011 Students & Parents:</p>

<p>Now that room assignments will be arriving in the mail, the Office of Residence Life has decided to update their FAQ page with some very helpful information. Here's a direct link to the page: <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/faq.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/faq.php&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>A link within the list of FAQ's leads to a page entitled "Roommates - Making it Work": <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/roommate_tips.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/roommate_tips.php&lt;/a>. I suggest all incoming students read this page thoroughly, as it provides some great tips regarding roommate relationships.</p>

<p>Another link within the list of FAQ's leads to a page entitled "Parents' Guide to Helping Your Child Succeed in the Residence Halls": <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/parents_advice.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/parents_advice.php&lt;/a>. The information contained within this page is fairly redundant, yet still worth reading. </p>

<p>As always, feel free to direct any questions my way.</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

5

<p>im in mckeen..does anyone know anything about that dorm?</p>

6

<p>girl10,</p>

<p>McKeen Hall is a fine first-year living environment (#49 on campus map: <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/&lt;/a&gt;). It is located directly behind the Farinon College Center, so food is never far away. It was just given an interior face-lift a semester ago, so it's in great condition. A/C was installed during the renovation...keep the room fan at home!</p>

<p>The building houses 182 residents, and of those, 90 will be first-year students. It is co-ed by floor. Laundry and cooking areas are on the basement level.</p>

<p>If you would like to see where your exact room is situated, check out the online floor plans. Simply go to <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/residence_halls.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/residence_halls.php&lt;/a> and click on the link at the bottom, "View Residence Hall Floor Plans and Dimensions". Enter your user ID (last name w/ first initial) and network password as provided with your technology orientation CD. Scroll down to "McKeen Hall" and click on the appropriate PDF files to see building plans and room dimensions.</p>

<p>FYI, since McKeen does not have carpeting in student rooms, you or your roommate should definitely purchase an area rug to cover the floor.</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

7

<p>Hi Justin,
First off, i wanted to say that i am going to be away from july 16th to the 30th (my family is going to europe!) so if you hear any more news about if they are going to fix the biology 101 issue..you won't be able to contact me at all!
Anyway, I was wondering if you could just tell me a little bit more about South College (i know you explained a lot in previous posts). I was hoping for Kamine, which i tried to indicate in the questions on the housing form. I wasn't really looking for too much of a party dorm, but i did get South College. I really wanted Kamine because I was hoping for the all freshman atmosphere- are there a lot of freshman that live in south college, and if so do they all live in the same part of the building or is it just mixed throughout? How is it in South college for people who are looking to be social but not over the top? How are the rooms/ is the building? I am also not excited to move out during interim!...Oh and i was wondering if athletes (I am going to be on the swim team and i think (but not sure) that we might have a training trip during that time) move out too? I'm not disappointed with my housing assignment, it just wasn't exactly what I expected. Hopefully you can answer my questions, and you don't have to repeat anything you wrote in previous posts!! Sorry this is so long!!
Meghan</p>

8

<p>Meghan,</p>

<p>If I hear anything about the BIO 101 situation, you'll find an email waiting for you when you return from Europe.</p>

<p>South College is the largest residence hall on campus (#31 on the campus map: <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/&lt;/a&gt;). It houses a total of 220 residents, and about half of those spaces are reserved for incoming students. I believe the first-year students are generally housed near each other in the building. </p>

<p>While Kamine Hall is an all first-year residence hall housing about 90 residents, if this serves as any consolation, it is a bit isolated from the rest of campus. Those who live in Kamine eventually get sick of the long walk to Farinon, especially in the colder weather. If anything, more partying goes on in Kamine simply because residents feel more removed from the rest of campus (and out of the reach of Public Safety).</p>

<p>South, as I'm sure you already know, has both carpeting and A/C. The double rooms, on average, are much larger than those in any other building. I know many students who purchased couches for their rooms and still had space to spare! The lounges at each end of the building have TVs, comfy couches/chairs, and kitchens with sinks and full ranges.</p>

<p>Of course, not everyone who lives in South likes to party...get that idea out of your head! The building has earned the reputation of being more "socially active" simply because it houses a larger number of people. That's why I often say there's something always going on in South. Don't worry about a thing, as you're bound to make friends with hallmates just like yourself.</p>

<p>As I told girl10 in a previous post, if you would like to see where your room is situated, check out the online floor plans. Simply go to <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ereslife/residence_halls.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/residence_halls.php&lt;/a> and click on the link at the bottom, "View Residence Hall Floor Plans and Dimensions". Enter your user ID (last name w/ first initial) and network password as provided with your technology orientation CD. Scroll down to "South College" and click on the appropriate PDF files to see building plans and room dimensions. If you are unable to log on, just let me know and I'll send the files to you as email attachments.</p>

<p>As a varsity athlete, you would not be expected to vacate your room over the interim session in January. As stated on the Residence Life Webpage, "Interim housing is limited to students who have in-season athletic responsibilities, are enrolled in an interim session course, are doing EXCEL Scholars research, are working on campus, or are unable to return home due to travel limitations". Furthermore, "Regular residents of Watson or South College who will be remaining at the College during the break for any of the reasons stated above and who desire to be assigned to their current rooms can complete an Interim Housing Registration form in the Office of Residence Life by [date]."</p>

<p>Got all that? It means you can stay where you are over the interim and not have to worry about schlepping your belongings elsewhere. Good news for you!</p>

<p>Have a safe trip.</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

9

<p>Thanks so much! The links were helpful too, and i was able to log on. Thanks!</p>

10

<p>Watson Hall, as expected, but it looks like I got one of the smaller rooms. What's the closest place to grab a bite? Better go email my roommate.</p>

11

<p>Basu,</p>

<p>I figured you'd be the first to ask about food on campus after referring to yourself as "fat and lazy" ;-P</p>

<p>Anyway, Watson Hall is located on the northwest portion of campus. Relatively speaking (the campus isn't that big to begin with), it isn't super close to any of the dining halls.</p>

<p>Using the online map to guide us (<a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/&lt;/a&gt;), let's take a tour of campus, shall we? </p>

<p>Watson Hall is #5. Marquis Dining Hall (#25), which is a buffet style dining hall, isn't more than a two minute walk from Watson. Simon's Cafe, which serves hot sub sandwiches, is in Kamine Hall (#16). Gilbert's Cafe, located in Kirby House (#57), is a great late-night coffeehouse/eatery just down High Street. Farinon (#50) has both the downstairs Food Court and upstairs buffet style dining hall.</p>

<p>If you're interested, you should check out the Dining Services Website to learn more about dining locations and food options at Lafayette: <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Edining/locations.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~dining/locations.html&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

12

<p>I got into ruef and my room has 1 in the beginning..does it mean it is in the ground floor or in the first floor? ..sorry for troubling you yet again but I guess you would be the best person to give a short first hand description of ruef... (in all possible regards)...the description given in the lafayette site was just too SIMPLE for my liking..hope you will help me out here :)</p>

13

<p>shail619,</p>

<p>A room number in the hundreds means that your room is on the first floor of Ruef Hall.</p>

<p>As posted on the Residence Life Website, Ruef houses about 140 students. Approximately 110 of those spaces are reserved for each incoming class. All of the rooms in Ruef are doubles with two walk-in closets. The floor is tiled, so be sure to purchase an area rug to cover the space. The building is co-ed by floor, and due to its split-level design, that translates to males and females rooming on opposite sides of each floor. Restrooms are "community style", and each serves a section of the building.</p>

<p>Did you have a chance to check out the online floor plans/room dimensions? For instructions on how to do this, check the previous posts in this thread.</p>

<p>A large lounge area with a TV, vending machines, and pool tables is located on the ground floor. Ruef residents can always be found hanging out in this area, especially later at night. The building itself is situated near other residence halls (Marquis, South, Keefe, Easton), so you shouldn't have any trouble meeting new people.</p>

<p>I think you'll really like Ruef. Sure, it doesn't have carpeting or A/C, but those students who live in Ruef always form the best friendships with their hallmates.</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

14

<p>thanks a lot Justin..surely..ruef does seem to be "my type"..gonna have fun there :D</p>

15

<p>I got a room in Watson with two roommates, what kind of room would this be?</p>

16

<p>shail619,
You should have a great time in Ruef. My son's room was in the 100s last year. The rooms in the 100s are actually one flight up for guys and 1/2 flight up for the girls (Ruef is set up kind of like a split level home set on a sloping piece of property). The big lounge is on the ground floor and there are no dorm rooms on that level. Half a flight down is what they refer to as the basement of Ruef which is really ground level also. The dorm rooms on that level are numbered 1, 2 etc. There is a nice lounge on that level too and that was the gathering spot for all of my son's friends last year. Most of them are returning to the Ruef basement for the first semester and they are all engineering majors. Second semester they'll all be in Germany. Stop by that lounge after the upperclassmen move in and you'll meet a really nice group of kids.</p>

17

<p>Really..that sounds pretty cool coz I too am an engineering major... thanks a lot Joinville for that information... :)</p>

18

<p>@haru07: Looks like we're in the same Hall. I think since you have 2 mates, it'll probably be one of the larger rooms (200+) sq. feet. Check out the floor plan and the room dimensions list on the website, that should give you some idea. I think we'll be on the same floor, I'm in room 115. </p>

<p>@shail: When are your ES 101 classes? I've got MWF 9am. What other classes are you in?</p>

19

<p>haru07,</p>

<p>What is your room number in Watson? Looking at the online floor plans, are you in 129/130 (the double room attached to a single)? That seems to be the only possibility considering you were assigned two roommates.</p>

<p>Be sure to check out the online floor plans by following the instructions I've provided in previous posts under this thread.</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>

20

<p>joinville,</p>

<p>Thanks for providing your thoughts on Ruef Hall. I had hoped that you would chime in since your son lived there his first year. I must tell you that your attempt to describe the maze of stairs in that building was a valiant one. I know from experience that only those who have lived in Ruef know how to find their way around in there!</p>

<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>