The College will close several residence clusters and affinity houses this Summer term in order to complete the 18-month process of rewiring the campus with faster computer network connections.
The Gold Coast, Massaschusetts Row, the Lodge and the River Apartments in Maxwell and Channing Cox will all be closed this summer.
Associate Dean of Residential Life Bud Beatty said two affinity houses -- Brewster International House and Cutter-Shabazz Hall -- will also close for rewiring over the summer. Cutter-Shabazz will undergo other renovations in addition to the rewiring, Beatty said.
Additional affinity houses might close if the department which sponsors the housing has no programs during Summer term, Beatty said.
There has been little student reaction to the closings of these buildings, according to Beatty.
The College generally closes some buildings to students during the summer -- regardless of whether or not renovations are scheduled -- because enrollment is lower than normal.
The closed buildings are usually reserved for conference events, he said.
When the rewiring of the final buildings is completed this summer, Beatty said, they should be opened for conferences.
During Summer term, there is an increase in students living off-campus.
Beatty said a little over half of the students in residence this summer are planning to live in on-campus housing, he said, which is "normal."
Students who do not live in on-campus residence halls will live in Coed Fraternity and Sorority housing or in off-campus apartments.
Beatty said there is a "greater opportunity" for students to get a good apartment or other non-affiliated residence during Summer term.
"It's the only time they can do it easily," he said, adding that many students sublet rooms or apartments from friends who are on leave during the Summer term.
Beatty said ORL suffers "no significant loss" from the increase in students living off campus, though they generally think it is "better to have them on campus."
