<p>I'll try to do this as best I can... Duke changed up a lot of frosh housing things over the past year, so some things are new to me. (But evidently, the dorm that I'm a FAC for [Southgate] is either substance free OR that wellness living thing, so I'll provide any info that I get when I get it).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Single, Double, or Triple.
I'd recommend a DOUBLE. Some information: at least in my freshman dorm (Pegram), the singles were VERY big-- sometimes even bigger than some doubles! There was only one triple in the dorm, and I'm only familiar with the triples in Pegram and Alspaugh (b/c I had friends there). My year, the one triple in Pegram and the one triple in Alspaugh were MASSIVE rooms (300+ sq. ft) and for guys. Actually, there was a large room that on one side of the dorm was a double but on the other side was a forced triple. MISERABLE. In the triples that I know of, everyone in the room was friends, but by 1st semester midterms, there was already a visible drift in the roommates-- two casting one aside. If you have a triple (and get a large one) you're going to have to be prepared to host a lot of people, because trust me, everyone will want to hang out there. This can cause some issues with drinking/pregaming. There are some nights I wish I had a single (and those are only when I was sexiled), but for the most part, I loved having a double. Maybe my roommate and I were very lucky to connect on such a great level, but Duke does great jobs with the doubles. Living in Randolph or Blackwell will be a tight (but managable) fit.</p></li>
<li><p>All dorms at Duke (except for fraternity sections) are co-ed. This question refers to whether your actual floor will be co-ed or single sex, and for us, only girls could request to live on a single sex floor. That being said, for safety concerns, the first floors of all the dorms near me (Pegram, Alspaugh, Bassett, and Brown) housed ONLY guys on the first floor. There's a sort of frat brother camraderie that quickly develops in such a situation. I know a girl who lived on a single sex floor and enjoyed it, but to be quite honest, it wasn't weird to live with guys. They split the floor in halfs by gender for bathroom purposes, and my bedroom was right next to the guys' half of the floor. It was a LOT of fun having everyone around.</p></li>
<li><p>The arts housing is a pilot program. As a FAC, I <em>can</em> tell you that the entire dorm will not be arts, but just a floor or an RA group or something. (Also- my guess is that this program will be in the brand new dorm, but take that speculation w/ a grain of salt). Based on looking on who rushes the Arts House selective living group, it's very original, very creative people-- not just classical music but focused on all sorts of arts, etc. Diversity in majors, they do study, etc. To go on a maybe unfair stereotype, these people may NOT be the most into Greek life or a lot of clubbing/partying... (based on the people I knew interested in Arts House selective living).</p></li>
<li><p>Dorms:
-Southgate: All the hell out there, big, newish, lots of triples, big common room, the double I went in was MASSIVE. Most importantly, I'm a FAC for Southgate, so if you're living there, I'll be moving you in. I also think this is either substance free or that wellness thing, so I'm a little upset my FAClets may not be the partying type.
-GA: MASSIVE MASSIVE dorm. The rooms are decent, and there's generally a big division in the dorm b/c it's so big.
-Randolph & Blackwell: Air conditioned, carpeted, elevators, shoebox sized rooms. Very sterile. Cinderblock walls.
-Bell Tower: Brand new. Rumored to have suite style living. Um... only 4 story dorm on East, but that's because the police department is on the first floor. Dunno about room size, hopefully bigger than Blackwell & Randolph. Will have same amenities as B & R. Only close to the gym and to Whole Foods.
-Aycock & Jarvis: Small, riiiight next to the busstop. Cute staircases, decent rooms.
-Giles: Dorm that has the traditional Georgian architecture that is seemingly in best location-- closest to bus stop, library, and Union.
-Wilson: Suite style living. The bedrooms aren't big (think bunk beds), but I think you get a living room thing (?), and you do share a bathroom of a shower and a toilet and a sink, but since it's within your suite, you're responsible for cleaning it. In the same great location as Giles.
-PEGRAM (!!!!), Bassett, Alspaugh, Brown: The first three are very fun dorms. Brown was substance free, and to whomever mentioned substance free kids drinking the most, not in Brown. Very similar in layout. Bassett and Pegram are a bit of a walk to the bus stop, but it's managable and you get used to it (and tacking on an extra few minutes to a morning commute). Plus- Pegram is always the 'party' dorm and the RA staff has to give a speech to the new residents in the beginning of the year to mention the reputation and beg them not to continue it. ALSO- if you live in Pegram, you'll have the BEST RA staff <em>ever</em>-- I cannot picture them writing you up or anything (and they're all friends of mine).</p></li>
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