Lamson and Meier Hall have become a quintessential part of Andrews University life. Whenever you ask alums what they may remember most about their time at Andrews, they often talk about all the fun they had in the dorms hanging out with their peers. Of course, this means that both buildings are well along in years. Over the years, questions and concerns have arisen from the student body about the dorms. It is well understood that the concerns of the student body cannot all be addressed, but this does not take away the value of those concerns. We give feedback because we are privileged to and in the hope and belief that we will be listened to. I wanted to hear, in-depth, what people would change about the dorms if they could.
I asked the residents of Lamson and Meier the question, “If you could change anything about the dorm, what would it be?” This might be a loaded question for some readers, especially if you have ever lived in a room where the sink fell or had mold issues, or both. Joel Saturne (sophomore, business administration), a Meier resident, said, “The walls are very thin, so you can hear everything. Even two doors down. The bathroom doors are also very thin. However, I would like to say that the RAs are very nice!” Similarly, in my experience, I have noticed that the walls are quite thin in Lamson Hall. In fact, it was such a problem for me that I now have my fan on almost constantly to block out the noises of others around me. Being able to hear people’s loud conversations or phone calls with their families is a big issue. Everyone is entitled to more privacy in their rooms. However, this point is nothing new. Neither is the point made by Bianca Loss (sophomore, elementary education), an RA and resident of Lamson Hall. She said, “I would change the whole building. The people are amazing. As part of the RA team, I love the team and the people so much. But the building lets us down. The atmosphere created here is wonderful, but the building needs some help.” There are more stories from Lamson residents that I was able to hear, including ones I could tell, but as Bianca said, the people in the dorms are all wonderful and ready to give a listening ear. This is what makes the problems of the dorm seem to drift away.
After asking some underclassmen, I decided to ask some individuals who have lived in the dorms for even longer. Sam Fisher (senior, nursing) said, “I wish I could change the mold situation in the bathroom. There is black mold in there that they keep saying they will fix, but they have not.” Students may have an uneasiness about mold and other structural concerns in their dorms, but some concerns for dorm life extend past their physical structure. Erin Beers (junior, psychology brain and cognition) said, “If I could change one thing about the dorm, it would be the curfew. Having a curfew for anyone in the sophomore class or above does not make sense to me. It’s there to teach accountability, but it takes away the actual decision to be accountable.” This statement has been echoed across the student body for many years. For more context, the standard curfew times are 11 pm for freshmen, 12 am for sophomores, and 1 am for juniors and seniors on weekdays. This varies if you have honor status. Regardless of class, the RAs come to check on everyone at 11:00 PM. Some students feel the curfew is very constricting. Others find it comforting. This is something that has often been discussed on campus, and people’s opinions vary on this topic.
To conclude, the comments made are things many would like to be changed. However, the intention of this article is not to attack the dorms, but to give an outlet for student voices. Because, in reality, the deans and RA’s and people that dwell in these residence halls are what make it all worth it. I am quite happy with my room and living conditions and have had very few issues living in the dorm, and many people feel the same way I do. However, with things that aren’t as pleasant, we can voice our opinions in the hopes that things can always get better. We appreciate all the work being done by the university, and we welcome more conversations surrounding this topic. While this article has highlighted some negative aspects, there are so many positive things about the dorm that I admire and want to see continue for many years to come.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.