Ivan Panov & Ellen Hansen, Special to The Denisonian & Asst. News Editor–

This fall, all first-year students lived in residential housing on the East quad, nicknamed the First-Year Quad (FYQ). This is a shift from previous years where students lived on both East and West quad. 

Students have had different reactions to this change. 

Brooke Chavez ‘29, who is living on East Quad, said that she “really enjoys living on East Quad.” She said that she “personally thinks the overall concept was a good idea,” but has felt that there is anger from the upperclassmen who were expecting the opportunity to live on East Quad this year.

Bryce Korbuly, a fellow class of ‘29 student, is enjoying the change and thinks that the FYQ should continue 

“I believe that keeping freshman housing in one quad would be beneficial, especially because that closeness builds a strong community.”

Both students are not fond of the random roommate process that many first years go through, though. 

“The roommate selection process is not as extensive or in-depth as it should be. There has been a multitude of individuals who have issues with their roommates as the personality form when going random did not ensure honesty,” said Chavez. 

She said she had concerns about the room change process. 

“The process is difficult and very unsupportive. The fact that singles are not available for first-years should they mentally need to move out of their rooms is a major issue that needs to be fixed in future years,” says Chavez.

Despite that, Chavez said, “the first-year housing office is doing an amazing job.”

Korbuly shares the same frustrations as Chavez, emphasizing that “the First-Year Office could update the roommate selection form to be a bit more intensive with more questions so that roommates are paired in the best possible manner.”

Jamil Alvi, a Community Advisor  (CA) on East Quad has had a positive experience with the new change. 

“I would say visitor participation in events has definitely risen since last year,” he says. “When I host an event, I host mostly on the 1st floor of Crawford. I’ve had people come from other buildings like Shepardson, East, and Huffman.”

Not only has attendance risen in residential events, it also risen in the Bandersnatch. Alvi said that there used to not be a large population at the Bandersnatch during the week, but with the First-Year Quad, attendance has gone up. 

“Now that all the freshmen are here, they have an excuse to spend time with one another. And so they do end up going to the Bandersnatch, whether it’s for playing some games, a movie night or just getting some bagels. I think that’s been one thing that’s been pretty positive that I’ve seen.”