The Hawk

Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: News

The Morris Quad Townhouses are home to 118 students.

The time has come to start thinking about living options for next year, and the Office of Residence Life is taking the opportunity to make some changes.

In a letter recently sent to the current juniors [rising seniors], the Office of Residence Life explained briefly the possibility of creating a seniors-only housing option. More specifically, they are planning to reserve the Morris Quad Townhouses in the housing lottery, making it only available to students who will be seniors in the fall of 2007.

The Morris Quad, located behind Overbrook Hall, was opened in the fall of 1997. Each townhouse is completely furnished and features single bedrooms, a living room, bathroom, and a free washer and dryer unit. The total capacity is 118 residents, and each townhouse houses four, six, or seven students. Although initially intended for juniors and seniors, the Quad also currently provides housing to sophomores.

In an effort to make this new living option seem more attractive for rising seniors, Residence Life is planning to include a variety of perks and benefits. Director of Residence Life, John Jeffery, explains that seniors will be provided with Career Development services and alumni development services, and the close proximity to campus will allow them to stay involved. This seniors-only living option will also prepare seniors for the "real world," helping them, for instance, to learn how to rent an apartment on a budget, establish independence, and create networks in their field.

The main reason for creating this new living option, however, is to encourage seniors to have a stronger connection with the St. Joe's community. Jeffery notes that much emphasis is placed on the freshmen, especially with the orientation activities, and the seniors should be given an equal opportunity to be involved. In a sense, living in the Townhouses and taking advantage of the benefits would provide seniors with an "orientation in reverse" as they finish up their last year at the University.

Junior Suzie Ross, a current townhouse resident, is excited about the plans for an all-senior living option. She says, "I think it's a really good idea because it gives the seniors an opportunity to stay involved on campus rather then being forced out of the housing lottery to live in Manayunk. Most of the time it's too inconvenient for seniors to spend a lot of time on campus."

Continued...

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