By: Joe Kourieh
Arts & Features Editor
“I’m happy I chose to live here,” said sophomore English major Rachel Gelinas about North Hall. “But I’m a little upset that the quality is still not where it should be. There’s still so much about it that seems incomplete.”
Much of the buzz throughout the Framingham State campus during the opening weeks of the fall term has pertained to the university’s latest and perhaps most luxurious project to date: it’s newest dormitory, North Hall.
Situated on the northern end of State Street overlooking Route 9, North Hall is a handsome addition to FSU’s landscape, standing six floors tall and featuring a glass walkway across its two sections.
North Hall holds the second-highest population of all of FSU’s dormitories, with 410 students currently residing there. This is second only to Corinne Hall Towers’ 500, and just over Larned Hall’s 370.
The architecture of the ritzy new building was designed by a creative conglomerate including staff and students.
“A lot of the design that emerged came out of the input of the students and staff who lived and worked on this campus and knew what kinds of things they were looking for,” said Director of Residence Life Glenn Cochran.
Students rushed eagerly into their new building upon the commencement of the new school year. They soon began to decide for themselves whether it’s worth the hefty price tag of $4125 per semester for a suite-style room or single room.
“It’s worth it,” said sophomore psychology major Andrew Sillitti, who resides in a suite with three other friends, all of whom lived on the same floor of Larned Hall the previous year, and all of whom agree on the value of the new living arrangement, despite the more than 1,000 extra dollars they are paying.
The suite-style rooms feature two basic double bedrooms branching off a posh common room complete with a couch and chairs, as well as a mini fridge. Two small hallways lead from the common room to the bathrooms, one of which has a toilet, and the other a shower.
Although initial rumors of exorbitant luxuries such as plasma TVs in suites quickly proved to be false, the new hall does include useful amenities such as a game room and access to a Brita water dispenser. It will also soon feature a café and convenience store.
“It’s very nice,” said Mark Anderson, a sophomore sociology major and one of Sillitti’s suitemates. “I like the common room, and room setup. I like how there’s a Brita water dispenser – that’s clean and conve nient.”
“Overall, I think the feedback’s been very positive,” said Cochran. “A project of this scope is a big undertaking. We moved people in when they were supposed to be moved in, so that’s a measure of success in itself.”
However, the recent move into the new building has been marred slightly by many students’ concern that the project was not quite complete even as they unpacked their bags and made themselves at home.
“It would be better if it was completely finished,” said sophomore psychology major Liz Myerson. “Our toilet was broken when we got here. All of our wardrobes are broken. The tiles overlap in one spot and I cut my foot on it the other day.
“I would rather they had taken more time to finish the building than rushing to move us in. I don’t regret living here, but it’s annoying.”
“There’s a lot of things that are still missing,” said Gelinas. “I don’t understand why a brand-new building is having so many problems.”
So far, students have complained about an absence of door locks on bathroom doors, poor cable reception, a lack of shades on a portion of the common room windows, no Ethernet plugs, poor water pressure in suite bathroom sinks, high mailbox placement, not enough provided toilet paper and strange noises emanating from toilets. There have even been sightings of rodents.
“The first couple of days we found some mice,” said Anderson. “We kept one as a pet, but we let it go later in the day.
“They’re working on it, apparently,” he added.
Cochran commented that the project’s complications and imperfections are “a hard one for us in Residence Life, because we’re not out there swinging hammers and drilling. … A lot of that is out of our control.
“I think there will be some minor problems, but not due to the speed of the project,” he added.
Another ever-present frustration for North Hall residents, and one that all FSU-goers can sympathize with, is the ongoing construction work on campus.
“The construction wakes us up every morning at 7 am every morning,” Gelinas said. “And it’s not like we can close the windows because it’s summer and it’s hot and there’s no AC. It’s pretty much a lose-lose situation.”
North Hall has already begun to develop a distinct culture among its residents, and the Framingham State community.
North Hall dwellers have taken quickly to their new home, even dubbing certain parts of the architecture with nicknames, such as calling the hall’s central triangular glass lounge the “tri-lounge.”
“This is a state-of-the-art residence hall,” Cochran said. “And we deserve it – our students deserve it. … This building is going to be a source of community pride for us for a long time.”
“I’m happy to be living in North Hall,” Gelinas said. “But I’m sure I won’t be happy when I have to pay off my student loans.”
North Hall resident Leigh Kumpe, a senior biology major, said “I’m enjoying it here, despite the issues. I think it will come of value over time.”
