Approximately 130 spaces are currently available in Saint Louis University’s housing system. Director of Housing Operations Argyle Wade said that beginning this week, “Students moving out of overflow housing, such as lounges and doubles that were made into triples, will fill many of these spaces.”
Presently, the Griesedieck Complex houses 564 freshmen; Reinert Hall, 308; Marguerite Hall, 188; Fusz Hall, 81; Notre Dame, 32; DeMattias Hall, 16; O’Brien House, 11; Laclede Houses, five. Even though DeMattias Hall was arranged as an all-Greek dorm this year, non-Greek students were placed there. The fraternities and sororities were given notification and time to fill the spaces but were unsuccessful.
Each SLU facility has open spaces. Grand Forest has the most available spaces, currently housing 129 students. “We did a lot of tours of the facility, and once the students saw the apartments they were more than willing to move in,” said Shawn Swinigan, director of Residence Life. Approximately half of the apartments are available to SLU students.
The rest of the tenants can stay until their leases expire, with the option of extending their lease until May 2002. “Our biggest challenge was moving in more than 3,300 people. Now we are working on getting people settled and making necessary transitions,” Swinigan said.
Residence Life is also focusing on building community and relationships in the dorms especially because researchers estimate that the first six weeks are the most critical for freshmen. Freshmen make the transition to college life with welcome-week activities, individual floor programming and roommate contracts.
Nine residence facilities have been updated over the summer, adding more than $19 million in improvements. Air-conditioning units have been installed in Marguerite Hall and the Griesedieck Complex. Electrical outlets and computer ethernet connections have been improved. A hard-wire fire alarm system and new sprinklers have also been installed. Levels three through nine in the Griesedieck Hall were renovated to resemble floors 10 through 16, which were renovated in the summer of 2000. New furniture has been placed in Notre Dame Hall, the Language Houses, and various lounges throughout campus. Bathrooms have been renovated in Marguerite Hall.
Multiple relocations have taken place around campus. The Salus Center now contains the School of Public Health and Center for Health Care Ethics, in addition to the Human Resources and Business and Finance offices. An inn is also being made at Salus for patients and their families. Fitzgerald Hall has renovated offices and classrooms for Sociology and Political Science.
The Childgarden building was upgraded and will house advising offices under the name, Academic Resources Center. Career Services, Pre-Professional Health Studies and Student Educational Services are already moved in and seeing students. Academic Services will move into the center in the coming week.
