The Office of Residential Life is forming a committee of students and administrators this term to suggest improvements for the common areas of the Choates residence hall cluster.
Associate Dean of Residential Life Bud Beatty said the Choates cluster has a lot of "underutilized common space," and he would like to see it "made more usable."
Assistant Dean of Residential Life Mary Liscinsky said she and Beatty decided to create the committee after discussing the limited use of the common areas in the Choates, which include basement areas as well as two large, elevated lounges.
"We weren't sure how much use the study spaces and the lounges were getting," Liscinsky said.
Beatty said the committee has not yet been formed, but students have already been asked to join the committee and to help make suggestions.
Beatty and Liscinsky said they recently sent a BlitzMail message to Choates residents explaining the purpose of the ad hoc committee and asking for interested students to reply.
Beatty said any renovations or improvements made to the Choates would be on the common areas only -- areas which can be changed during the term.
Changes made to bedrooms or bathrooms of residence halls would involve much more work, which would need to take place during the summer, he said.
Liscinsky said the College does not have funds to finance large-scale renovation. "But we want students to be creative and tell us what they want changed -- different tables, more lighting, better ventilation."
Liscinsky said she and Beatty are looking for a "cross-representation of students" to serve on the committee, and they want the student committee members to be accessible to other students in order to hear many ideas for Choates cluster improvements.
Liscinsky said she would like to see improvements made to the Choates soon -- possibly by the end of Fall term.
But Beatty said changes may be taking place throughout the year, depending on "what we identify to do and what we can afford."
Carter Jackson '98, who is living in the Choates for the first time this term, said he has never spent much time in the Choates' common areas.
But he did say he thinks the study rooms in the basements are too dark and could use better lighting.
Dave Bruder '97, an Undergraduate Advisor in Bissel residence hall, said he thinks the renovations are a good idea.
He said something he thinks many students would appreciate is a tunnel connecting Little residence hall to Bissel, so all four Choates buildings would be connected.
"But I know that is pretty much impossible," he said.
Colin Dean '99, who is living in the Choates for the second year in a row, said he enjoys living there.
He said he likes the "community spirit" in the Choates, and the only thing he would change about the cluster would be to add a television to the Cohen/Bissel lounge.
