Due to the large size of the freshman class and a lack of space in Boland Hall, this year Aquinas was solely freshmen housing. Next year, since Aquinas will be under construction, upperclassmen will be living there.
This raises the question: where will the freshmen be placed if they do not fit in Boland?
Vice President of Student Services Dr. Tracy Gottlieb said it is too early to tell where the freshmen will go.
"First we need to gauge the interest of returning students in AQ," Gottlieb said. "We will do that now. Then when we see how many upperclassmen want to live in AQ at a discount, we will plan for our freshmen."
Gottlieb said she will provide more information when she is able to.
There were mixed reactions from students.
"I happen to love AQ," freshman Aquinas resident Clair Vodicka said. "I love the setup and size of my room. Even though some of my friends are in Boland, nothing stops me from going over there if I feel like it."
Ashlynn Johnson, also a freshman Aquinas Hall resident, said she has a similar feeling about the situation.
"I prefer living in AQ, because I feel that I know almost everyone on my floor, and I've made a ton of friends so far," Johnson said. "I think it might be a little harder to get to know everyone in Boland, because it is so big, not to mention the fact that there are two different parts (North and South). So overall I think AQ has affected my freshman experience in a positive way."
Elise Pfail said she disagrees. Having switched from Aquinas to Boland, she said she prefers the latter.
"I have made so many more friends here (in Boland) in a few days than I made in AQ in months," Pfail said. "There's a lot more activity, AQ always seemed dead quiet to me. Also now I feel more at home in my room. I do enjoy being around freshmen more. We have a connection of still being relatively new to college and are able to help each other out."
Arielle Branco can be reached at Arielle.branco@student.shu.edu.
