Suite-Style Apartments New to Dana’s Campus

By Christa Backus 

            Along with incoming freshmen, new faculty and coaches, there is a new building on campus.   New for 2006 are suite-style apartments that are available for 48 students.  Tyler Mohr leads this group of students as the hall director. 

Students moved into the new building in August for the 2006-2007 school year, but according to Mohr, he and others have been working on planning for the new living arrangements since spring of his sophomore year in 2004.  Originally they planned on remodeling Rasmussen and Holling halls into suite-style apartments, but instead they opted to remodel Holling and build a new building.

            There are 12 total apartments each housing four students.  Each apartment consists of four separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a small kitchen.  New furniture and main appliances are provided. 

            According to Mohr students apply for the apartments based on a lottery process, where upperclassmen get first priority.  Students also need to be in good academic standing and in good standings with the residence life.  For students to remain in the apartments they must complete two community service projects throughout the year, one on-campus and one off-campus. 

The new apartments provide a new style of housing for Dana students.  Jodie Bonertz said she chose to live in the apartments because, “I get the off-campus feeling but still resides on campus.” Like Bonertz students are adjusting to more independent living where they cook their own meals, wash their own dishes and clean their own bathrooms.  Roommates Dan Rowe, Tony Palmer, Brett Brandl and Wade Jordan all have the 60 meal block plan and say they share cooking duties.  They also commented on how cleaning duties are usually done by only one roommate.

There are some drawbacks to living in the apartments.  Since it is the first of its kind at Dana there have been some structural problems, such as leaking sinks and chipped walls, that were not expected.  However, maintenance and contractors are working on fixing any problems that have occurred.  Another challenge that residents are facing is the lack of interaction between residents and the campus.  Mohr and residents are brainstorming to find a way to get more involved in the campus community.

 Overall the suite-style apartments are a great addition to Dana.  They provide a new style of living for prospective students and greater independence.  Throughout the year adjustments will be made to continuously improve this way of living, and maybe in the future more suite style apartments will appear on Dana’s campus.