Housing Changes

By Alex McComas

Recently, Gettysburg College announced that several buildings, among which are Wolf House and 25 Railroad Street, would be cut from available housing for next semester, spring of 2010.  In an e-mail sent March 12^th, Victor Arcelus, Director of Resident Life and Assistant Dean of College Life, stated the following:

“The reason for these changes stems from the fact that the College is preparing to complete a significant multi-year project that involved upgrading student housing to meet life safety standards that were approved by the Board of Trustees.”

Arcelus and Dean Ramsey elaborated on these decisions at a Blue Crocodiles meeting Monday the 15^th.

Dean Ramsey began by explaining goals set in 2004, in compliance with the B.O.T. regulations that had been expected to be enforced in the following years.  Where fire alarm systems had only been able to detect fires by general location, the new standards, which would put a sprinkler to each living space, would be able to locate fires specifically; for example, where the system could only locate ‘Rice Hall’, the new system would identify ‘room #229 Rice Hall’.

The Board of Trustees and those in Residence Life created a year by year plan that would gradually install these systems in each hall so that, by the summer of 2010, each building would be up to standards.  With said deadline fast approaching, there are a number of houses not yet accommodated, either by college’s choice or by landowner’s decision.

To reiterate, the buildings that will no longer be available for student residence through the college are:

• 339 Carlisle Street
• 524 Carlisle Street
• Wolf House
• 100 Chambersburg Street
• 25 Railroad Street

These buildings, though not applicable through the college itself, can still be viable options for students desiring off campus housing.  Arrangements can be made with the landowners.

Some buildings will be receiving changes in occupancy; these buildings, as indicated in Arcelus’ e-mail, are Steven’s Hall, Apple Hall, Corkran Hall, Haaland Hall, Hazlett Hall, Eisenhower House, Appleford House, and Hutchinson House.  Floor plans accessible through CNAV can be viewed to see these changes.  Colonial Hall and Tudor House are buildings that will be receiving major larger renovation.

The B.O.T. was commended for its commitment to this proposal, setting aside the money each year and fulfilling the expectations of the renovations.