| Each of the first year dorms has both positive and negative aspects. I am CA for first years right now and will be an HCA next year so I can answer any questions you have about dorms or living at Kenyon. The dorms are pretty much broken into 2 areas, the freshman quad, and McBride/Mather.
Freshman Quad: Lewis, Gund and Norton
Lewis and Norton are basically the same building except mirror images. They are divided by hall, so you are living with the same sex on your hall, but there might be other students of a different sex down the hall. In Norton the first floor will be all girls, the second floor all guys. In Lewis the first floor is half girls and half guys, same with the second floor. Most rooms are doubles, usually about 15'x14', they are nice size with movable furniture built in bookcase. There are a few singles scattered throughout, they are generally really nice, usually about 10'x13'. There is a lounge with a tv, but no kitchen. The bathrooms are generally nice. Gund is the middle building on the quad and is also divided by sex, the first floor is all guys, the second floor is all girls. The rooms are fairly large, but they have a 5' high divider in the middle of the room which some people like, most don't. The rooms are still a great size, and the lounge is huge. The great thing about being on the quad is the sense of community, people go out and study or hang out, play frisbee during the warm weather. Although the halls are divided by sex, you still see the opposite sex there it is not like you will never see another girl or guy (unless you want it that way). The down side to the quad is that there is no air conditioning, and the heat is not adjustable. This is generally not a problem, a fan will do fine and its really only needed the first and last couple of weeks. I lived in Lewis my first year in a single and it was the best experience ever. A lot of guys on my hall are still room mates and I think it is the friendships you make then that last a lifetime.
McBride/Mather:
These two doors are across the street from the quad. They are pretty awkward in design with hallways that take sudden left turns, it is sometimes weird to navigate when you are not familiar but you get used to it quickly. They were originally built to house women when Kenyon had the coordinate college for women in 1969. Contrary to popular belief, the hallways were not meant to make the building riot proof, this is just a myth. Mather and McBride are close to Gund Commons (food, lounge, computers). Like Lewis and Norton they are mirror images of each other. McBride is all for first years only and is the largest first year dorm with about 180 residents. Mather is part first year and part upperclassmen, usually all sophomores. The rooms are sometimes weird shapes, though most are generally square or rectangular. The doubles are a bit smaller than on the quad and the singles, are pretty tiny. There are only a few singles, usually 5 on each floor. Singles are about 9'x10', doubles are usually 17'x10', but are sometimes not perfect shapes. There are usually about 20 people to each part of the hall (there is a short side, middle side and long side to the building). This probably makes no sense but it will when you come here. The pros are the adjustable heat and air conditioning. Also there is a kitchen on the third floor with a study area and a lounge with tv on the second floor. People also hang out in the first floor breezeway. The rooms are single sex by room so your neighbor might not be the same gender as you. There is a nice lawn behind the buildings by Gund Commons, but it is not as nice as the quad in my opinion. I am currently a CA in McBride now and I enjoy it and all of the people that live here. Although, I am excited to live on the Quad next year. Also, the third floor is not wellness housing. This had been done in the past but was not done this year because of lack of interest (only 5 people applied). That being said all first year dorms are obviously alcohol free.
If you have any other questions at all, like room sizes, windows, you want me to draw you a picture, either post a thread or PM me and I will be happy to do so. |