by Jody P. Bethel
Staff Writer
and
by Julie Eklund
Staff Writer
Residential life means a variety of things to students who reside in Brandt, Studebaker-Hanawalt and the Oaks residence halls – anything from enjoying their independence to having carpet in the Oaks.
The mission of the Office of Housing and Residential life, as defined in the residential handbook, is to create a RESIDENCE HALL: “A R-eally E-xciting S-ensational I-ndividually D-esigned E-nvironment that N-urtures C-ommunity E-xperience and H-ouses an A-bundance of L-ife and L-ove,” rather than a DORM: “A D-ull O-rdinanary R-oom with M-eals.”
The cost to reside on campus is determined by the facility in which one lives and whether the room is a single or double.
Residency for the fall 1997 semester will cost $1,110 for a double in Brandt or Stu Han, and $1,554 for a single facility. Residents of the Oaks will pay $1,290 to reside in doubles and $1,806 in a single unit.
Purchase of a meal card is mandatory to reside on campus, but students have the option of a 12 meal plan for $1,055 or a 19 meal plan for $1,250.
The Oaks is the newest of the resident halls, housing 172 men and women. It is designed as a complex with five two-story buildings. Included are carpet, air conditioning and cable facilities for residents.
The voices of the residence halls speak out on what it means to live at the University of La Verne.
Kally Bush, a sophomore, lives in the Oaks this year. She says she likes it because, “it’s small, there’s not a whole lot of people like in Stu-Han. It’s more family oriented and more personal.”
Kimbley Craig, a junior and Resident Hall Association floor representative, lives in the Oaks this year and plans to be a RA in the Oaks next year.
“I love my residence hall because people there are very respectful of one another.”
She said about the international floor where she lives, “It’s cool to be able to learn a lot about other cultures. I’m able to experience their culture a little.”
Nancy Ikari, a sophomore and RHA president lives in Oaks this year and stayed in Stu-Han last year.
About the Oaks, she said she likes, “The people and the atmosphere. I can always count on someone being around, and I can always count on having fun.
“I liked Stu-Han, but I had to move out for the holidays,” she said.
Par Nag, a junior and RHA president last semester, resides in Oaks this year. “It’s quiet over here, and all my friends are here, so it makes it easy to go out and do things.”
Stu-Han houses 132 women. The building is separated into five wings, four of which have two floors.
Eliza Amanat, a sophomore at her first year in Stu-Han says that it is a homey environment but that,”there’s too much noise. Quiet hours are 11-8, but at 6 a.m. the lawnmowers are going outside and the maids are starting.”
Cherryl Cercado, a senior who has spent all her years in Stu-Han, said, “I like the proximity of it to all the buildings; I can roll out of bed and get to class in 5 minutes,” and that “people are friendly and enthusiastic.”
Sophomore Amy Kuca, who just spent her first year in Stu-Han, said, “I like it because it’s all girls. It’s more private. Stu-Han seems more secluded [than the Oaks].”
Ikari lived in Stu-Han last year. As she reflects back she says,”Everyone was so friendly, and we had a great time. It was so close to everything. If you don’t have something you can knock on anyone’s door and find it.”
The third residence hall is Brandt, a three-story co-ed building, in which men are housed on the bottom two floors and women are housed on the third floor.
Dan Ferguson, a senior, lived in Brandt for three years, but lives in the Oaks this year.
What he liked about Brandt was, “the whole sense of camaraderie. We would all meet down in the lobby and kick it.”
Senior Mario Lopez lived in the Oaks last year, but moved to Brandt year because he wanted a single room.
“Brandt has more of a family atmosphere. Friendships just form and they’re tight and really close,” he said.
Josh Sherod, a senior and RHA Oaks Hall Coordinator lived in Brandt his first two years at ULV, but now lives in the Oaks.
“We had a pretty close community. There were no buildings separating anybody. Everyone knew each other.”
Freshman Elia Torres says she liked her experience at Brandt. “I got to know everybody on my floor,” she said, as opposed to if she had lived in Stu-Han. “It’s so small, one floor of girls you pretty much know everyone.”
Today is the last day to turn in housing applications to the Office of Housing and Residential Life. Late applications will only be considered after incoming freshmen have been placed.
Jody P. Bethel