Delayed stay: Freshmen sent to coed halls

 Hopes fell short for freshmen anticipating to move into the Martin- Schexnider Residence Hall.

The hall, scheduled to be complete before the freshmen move-in date, August 10, still remains unfinished.

As a result, students have been rerouted to traditional halls, Dillard and Brown, until further notice.

Director of Housing and Residence Life, Abeer Mustafa said, "They [the construction company] have not given us a date yet.

"There was a busted pipe in the building which caused damage, so we're going back to look at it to make sure it's physically where it needs to be for students to move in."

Mustafa said Housing learned of the new hall delay late July early August.

Students were informed of the delay by email and phone the next day. Calls were made by the housing and residence staff and by the Solutions Center.

Iris Ramseur, a freshman nursing major from Shelby, N.C., said she received an email two to three weeks before school started saying she would have to move into Dillard Hall.

"I'm pretty sure my roommate will be the same when I move because we have the same roommates here that we were assigned for the new hall."

Ramseur said the news about the new hall was upsetting because she was anticipating staying there and not a traditional hall.

According to Housing, as a result of the new hall not being completed in time, Brown and Dillard halls are co-ed to accommodate all of the freshmen awaiting Martin- Schexnider Hall.

Housing and Residence Life Area Coordinator Corry Colonna said all the students that are scheduled to move into Tower B, which is also called the Schexnider tower, are housed in Dillard and students in Tower A, also called the Martin tower, are in Brown.

"The goal was we wanted them to get to know their resident assistants.

"So they're housed with the people that they will be living with in the new hall," Colonna said.

"We didn't want them [students] to start to build a sense of identity and friendships and have to move away from one another."

There are 227 students scheduled to move into the new hall, 220 freshmen and seven RAs.

Mustafa said as soon as the date gets closer and more realistic, they'll send students an email to get them excited.

Although, Martin- Schexnider is an honors hall, freshmen who returned their housing forms first were given a room in the new hall.

Teaira Hinton, a freshman nursing major from Wilson, N.C., said she was informed by phone that October is the latest that she would be moving into the new hall.

As a result of the delay in the new hall's completion, students were charged the traditional hall rate instead of being charged the rate to stay in suite-style housing. Saving students approximately $1,200 for the academic year.

Colonna said although the building is not yet finished on the outside, it will reach expectations on the inside.

In each room, there are wood floors, accent walls and high ceilings.

Colonna said Housing plans to host two grand opening--one student focused and the other with the Board of Trustees, administration and sponsors.

"I'm pretty sure my roommate will be the same when I move because we have the same roommates here that we were assigned for the new hall."

Ramseur said the news about the new hall was upsetting because she was anticipating staying there and not a traditional hall.

According to Housing, as a result of the new hall not being completed in time, Brown and Dillard halls are co-ed to accommodate all of the freshmen awaiting Martin- Schexnider Hall.

Housing and Residence Life Area Coordinator Corry Colonna said all the students that are scheduled to move into Tower B, which is also called the Schexnider tower, are housed in Dillard and students in Tower A, also called the Martin tower, are in Brown.

"The goal was we wanted them to get to know their resident assistants.

"So they're housed with the people that they will be living with in the new hall," Colonna said.

"We didn't want them [students] to start to build a sense of identity and friendships and have to move away from one another."

There are 227 students scheduled to move into the new hall, 220 freshmen and seven RAs.

Mustafa said as soon as the date gets closer and more realistic, they'll send students an email to get them excited.

Although, Martin- Schexnider is an honors hall, freshmen who returned their housing forms first were given a room in the new hall.

Teaira Hinton, a freshman nursing major from Wilson, N.C., said she was informed by phone that October is the latest that she would be moving into the new hall.

As a result of the delay in the new hall's completion, students were charged the traditional hall rate instead of being charged the rate to stay in suite-style housing. Saving students approximately $1,200 for the academic year.

Colonna said although the building is not yet finished on the outside, it will reach expectations on the inside.

In each room, there are wood floors, accent walls and high ceilings.

Colonna said Housing plans to host two grand opening--one student focused and the other with the Board of Trustees, administration and sponsors.