There’s no place like home

The excitement is apparent as upperclassmen settle in to daily living at the newly completed Bobcat Village apartments on West Campus.

After living at the Ramada Limited for the past five months, students were able to move into the new apartments Jan. 2.

“We were going to open at noon, but the students were so excited and were already here by 10:30 that we opened early,” said Sherolyn Hopkins, assistant director for apartment living.

“Most of their belongings had already been moved before the holidays by a moving crew that the university hired, but students brought TV’s and computers, clothes and dishes, whatever they got for Christmas,” said Hopkins.

The three-story apartments were built in a style that reflects the architecture of main campus. Inside they are light and roomy with white walls, earthtone carpets and furnishings.

“The contract with Ambling provided for two interior designers to assist
with decorating. They brought lots of samples and we had a hard time choosing,” said Hopkins.

Business major Tiffany Oliver said she was impressed by the new apartments.

“I didn’t realize the quality of the luxuries,” said Oliver. “I didn’t expect it to be this nice.”

Currently there are 253 students who contracted for either the two or four-bedroom floor plan. Completely furnished, each unit includes a full kitchen with dishwasher and garbage disposal, washer and dryer, telephone, cable and Internet hookups and a security button in each bedroom. Attractive landscape is in place and piped music can be heard as students wait for the shuttle bus to take them to main campus.

“The biggest advantage is having your own kitchen,” said Oliver. “My mom gave me cookbooks for Christmas so I could start cooking.”

She has already entertained her off-campus friends by cooking them a spaghetti dinner.

Swipe cards are used to enter the apartments as well as the pool area, game room, and computer lab.

“No one has braved the pool yet,” said Hopkins. “Everyone just seems so excited to be in their own place that there hasn’t been too much pool or game activity. Students are beginning to gather in the courtyard to cookout and visit.”

Hopkins said that the students were educated in appliance use and were given a spiral-bound manual for reference. There is a community assistant in each building who handles facility problems.

Student housing director and assistant vice president for student affairs Paul Jahr said that apartment living offers opportunities to live more independently but still receive university services support.

“It’s a transition between the dorms and living completely on your own,” said Jahr.

To live in the apartments, students must be at least twenty-one or have earned at least twenty-four semester hours. The contracts are for one
year.

“Signups will go to current residents first,” said Jahr.

Other advantages include a monthly pest control and maintenance check to change air conditioning filters and check dryer lint traps and a general visual inspection of the apartment.

“This will give students a chance to bring up any problems while they are small so that we can take care of it,” said Hopkins.

Oliver is grateful to finally have her own space and be able to stretch out.

“The best part is having my own bedroom and bathroom [in the two-bedroom floor plan]. The catch-22 is having to clean it myself. No more maid service,” said Oliver.

As the shuttle unloaded, students began walking back to their apartments. Hopkins asked student Jonathan Carr, “How goes it?”

“Lovin’ it,” he said.

To take a look inside Bobcat Village, Click Here.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 17 2003. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry