Patrick Fergus
@Fergus5Fergus
The announcement last November that Gulick Hall would be closing at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, raised concerns surrounding the incoming first-year class and where they would be residing.
The statement released by the office of Campus Life and Inclusion, said there were opportunities to enhance the quality of residential life on campus, and that “the student experience has been at the forefront of our minds…[and] we are now turning our attention to the residential infrastructure.”
Gulick housed around 300 first-year students, the most of any residence building at the school. It was determined that International hall, which had previously been home to upperclassmen, was the best option to take on the majority, as it accommodates about 280 students.
Patrick Rojas, the Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life, believes that Inty is a strong spot for those new to campus, as it is one of the younger buildings on campus with newer furniture. It underwent some cosmetic changes, especially to the front entrance of the building, over the summer.
“If you walk by the front it’s a much more welcoming environment for new students who are coming to campus, it has more pride you can say,” Rojas said.
Massasoit hall was also partly closed last year for renovation, but houses a little over a hundred students across a couple of floors.
For upperclassmen options, Abbey-Appleton hall is back in use after a lengthy renovation closure last year. A known problem for the dorm, which first opened in 1956, was the plumbing and shower draining systems.
The changes include those of the cosmetic variety, with the shared shower drains as a highlight. An unpopular feature with the students, it also led to potential plumbing problems in the event of a backup.”
“They took last year and parts of the summer to redesign the piping and the plumbing system,” said Rojas. “That was a major upgrade”
There was also recognition for a new layout to give students more room in their individual spaces. Newer two-drawer dresses were taken from Gulick and moved to Abbey in what Rojas says will improve how students can take advantage of the room.
“Now the space is more usable and student-friendly,” he said.
The Kakley Graduate Annex was converted to undergraduate students over the summer as well, housing 20 across five apartments.
With everyone back for the fall semester, the most notable change is to Gulick itself. The area, including the parking lot across from the Wellness center, is fenced off. The windows have been taken out and some large chunks of the building have been removed.
Although there has been some speculation that a demolition of the former residence hall is in the near future, Rojas didn’t confirm whether or not that is a possibility. In fact, he underscored a desire to not disrupt the campus, especially the surrounding structures.
“Currently the goal is that pieces of the building will start coming down,” said Rojas. “[They] want to ensure there is not a large impact on the community, with Lakeside and Abbey right there.”
The college has not given an official timetable, but has said the area will become a green space after the building is entirely cleared out. There are ongoing discussions around the development of a new residential building, and it has not yet been decided on where the new dorm will be located if one is built.
Photo by Patrick Fergus