<p>I am an incoming freshman at Lafayette. The dorming assignments are out and I recently have been placed in Ruef. I know the dorm has no air conditioning and walk in closets, but that’s about all I know. What is Ruef really like?</p>
<p>Residence hall “cheat sheet”, in no particular order:</p>
<ol>
<li>Watson Hall</li>
<li>64/130 first-year students, co-ed by floor</li>
<li>Wellness (substance-free) section: 14 first-year students</li>
<li>Library study space</li>
<li>Near engineering building</li>
<li><p>Condition: nothing special, average rooms, walk-in closets, no A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>Marquis Hall</p></li>
<li><p>40/60 first-year students, ALL-FEMALE</p></li>
<li><p>Marquis Dining Hall, 24/7 computer lab on ground floor</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: a bit run-down, larger rooms, built-in closets, no A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>Easton Hall</p></li>
<li><p>50/105 first-year students, co-ed by room</p></li>
<li><p>One large restroom and one lounge/kitchen per floor</p></li>
<li><p>Near Marquis Dining Hall</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: last renovated in 02, average rooms, built-in closets, no A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>Kamine Hall</p></li>
<li><p>90 first-year students, co-ed by room</p></li>
<li><p>Small lounges/kitchens on each floor</p></li>
<li><p>Removed from campus</p></li>
<li><p>Simons Café</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: newly built (05), average rooms, A/C, no carpeting, hospital-like</p></li>
</ol>
<p>5/6. Conway House/PT Farinon House
- 30 first-year students, co-ed by room
- Family atmosphere get to know everyone with one big lounge
- Isolated from rest of campus
- Condition: a bit run-down, average rooms, no A/C, no carpeting</p>
<ol>
<li>Ruef Hall</li>
<li>110/143 first-year students, co-ed by floor</li>
<li>Small communities</li>
<li>One large lounge/kitchen on ground floor</li>
<li><p>Condition: nothing special, average rooms, walk-in closets, no A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>Keefe Hall</p></li>
<li><p>16/117 first-year students, co-ed by room</p></li>
<li><p>Family atmosphere within Wellness (substance-free) floor</p></li>
<li><p>Overall quiet building</p></li>
<li><p>Private restrooms, lounge/kitchen for each living group</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: built in 99, average rooms, A/C, carpeting, hotel-like</p></li>
<li><p>South College</p></li>
<li><p>105/220 first-year students, co-ed by floor</p></li>
<li><p>Large lounges/kitchens on each floor</p></li>
<li><p>Party Dorm</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: last renovated in 02, HUGE rooms, A/C, carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>McKeen Hall</p></li>
<li><p>90/182 first-year students, co-ed by floor</p></li>
<li><p>Lounge/kitchen on ground floor only</p></li>
<li><p>Near Farinon Dining Hall</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: newly renovated (07), smaller rooms, built-in closets, A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>Gates Hall</p></li>
<li><p>42/84 first-year students, co-ed by floor</p></li>
<li><p>Lounge/kitchen on ground floor only</p></li>
<li><p>Near Farinon Dining Hall</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: needs renovation, smaller rooms, built-in closets, no A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
<li><p>Kirby House</p></li>
<li><p>12/69 first-year students, ALL-MALE, upperclassmen mainly athletes</p></li>
<li><p>Lounges and a library study space on first and third floors</p></li>
<li><p>Near Farinon Dining Hall</p></li>
<li><p>Condition: last renovated in '01, HUGE rooms, walk-in closets, A/C, no carpeting</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hey,
Just thought I’d add some more details for you since I lived in Ruef freshman year.
There’s about 140 kids in Ruef, 90 are first years, the others are upperclassmen. It’s co-ed by floor and it’s design is such that you have split level floors for guys and girls. Freshman and upperclassmen are on separate floors. One huge communal bathroom on each floor. </p>
<p>Rooms are standard size, not huge but not too small either. The walk in closets are a huge, huge bonus. If you’re a woman, you might want to consider bringing a curtain and a light shower rod / something to attach it with since most women who lived in ruef ended up doing that. If you’re a guy, you won’t care. There’s no carpeting and a/c and I would definitely recommend bringing a fan for the first couple months since it tends to get unbelievably hot. Also, me and my roommate bought carpets from walmart to use as well so definitely look into that. </p>
<p>One of the great things about living in Ruef is you tend to get very close to people on your floor since each floor is basically 2 small corridors connected by 2 other smaller corridors so you will always end up walking past everyone’s room atleast once in the day. Does not have individual lounges on each floor like other dorms but has a humongous lounge and kitchen in the basement with a pool table and tv. Ruef is right across from Marquis dining hall and is close enough to all the major academic buildings. You have excellent access to ‘the statue’ and to the stairs going to downtown easton. The layout is a little confusing the first few times but you get used to it pretty soon.</p>
<p>My son lived in Ruef his freshman year, and way back in time I lived in Ruef my freshman year. The closets are the best thing about that dorm- two walk-ins in every room. But the closets don’t have doors, so bring a tension rod (you won’t need anything to attach a tension rod with) and a non-see-thru shower curtain. Viola- instant closet door! Hides your mess, plus you can use your closet to change clothes even when there’s a group of friends in your room. </p>
<p>I also recommend bringing a rug/carpet, and a large fan. </p>
<p>
The secret is to remember which doorway/stairwell you came in. I used the same stairwell most of the time, but every once in a while I used the other one and believe it or not once or twice I got lost in my own dorm… and it was long after September… and I was NOT drunk. It’s easy to do that in Ruef! <sheepish look=“”></sheepish></p>
<p>I loved Ruef, and my son met a group of friends in Ruef that he’s stayed with all thru his college years.</p>
<p>Does Ruef have an elevator that can be used for move-in?</p>
<p>Ruef dies not have an elevator.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me what size tension rod to get for the Ruef closets? We got our shower curtain but don’t know how wide the door is. Thanks!</p>