Volume 120 Issue 24 Friday, April 8, 2016
OrbitMediaOnline.com
Welcome families to Parents’ Weekend 2016
Muskingum makes change, first-year only hill Martin Kurtz Orbit Media Reporter
Starting in Fall 2016, first-year students will only be residing in Thomas, Memorial, and Moore Halls on campus. Andi Kelley, Director of Residence Life, came up with the idea after seeing first-year only residence halls resulting in positive experiences while she was working at previous institutions. “We wanted to see if we could find any way to bring all of our first-years together,” said Kelley. Kelley said that having firstyears all together on one hill on campus will allow Residence Life Brenna Busby/ Black & Magenta to help focus on them and their Beginning in Fall 2016 Memorial and Moore Halls will become like transition to college life. Thomas Hall and be home to only first-year Muskies. Kelley brought the idea to Su-
san Waryck, Dean of Students, who supported the idea but identified pros and cons of creating another first-year only residence hall. They, along with Ashley Walley, Aaron Clark, and the Admission Office, determined that the projected amount of incoming first-years would fit into the three residence halls. Also, that upperclassmen would fit in the rest of the residential spaces on campus on the East Hill. Waryck said that upperclassmen that lived in Thomas Hall their freshman year had a positive experience. “They [upperclassmen] reflect back on Thomas as being a great opportunity to connect with their class so we wanted to expand on what we had already started in Thomas,” said Warcyk.
Waryck also said that the transition would benefit first-years and upperclassmen alike, as the Resident Assistants will be able to target their programming more on the specific age groups. “The great thing coming for upperclassmen students with this is while we have taken away this community, we have opened up other spaces that [upperclassmen] students have seemed to want in the past,” said Kelley. Waryck said that she and Kelley are welcome to feedback. This change might not be permanet if they don’t see positive changes. It is possible that Memorial and Moore Halls could be converted back into dorms open to all Muskies. Thomas would remain all first-years, as it is now.
Columbia Gas pays for replacement pipes N AT U R A L G A S L I N E
REPLACEMENT
Maple Avenue, New Concord HIGH ST.
CHERRY LN.
DELAWAR
FRANKLIN ST.
ALY. CHESTNUT
MAIN ST.
E ST.
LIBERTY ST.
Columbia Gas representatives assured the public they will be working to keep traffic flowing. The project is expected to be completed by July. Columbia Gas of Ohio promises to restore any damages caused by the project, including cracks in the sidewalks and streets as well as planting grass in yards. Those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the company. As part of the process, Columbia Gas employees and contractors will be knocking on doors. Residents should ask for proper identification if approached. The company also asks for Muskingum Univerity students renting property in the affected areas to share project information with their landlords.
. CENTER ALY
By the week of April 12, some New Concord homeowners may find their daily routines interrupted by digging in their yards and visits from gas workers. It’s a temporary inconvenience that Columbia Gas of Ohio said will pay off in the long run as the company begins its four-month, one-point two million dollar project in the Village of New Concord. “There’s going to be dirt. There’s going to be disruption,” said Columbia Gas of Ohio External Affairs Specialist, Shane Cartmill. As part of a 20-year, 2.5 billion dollar project throughout the Sate of Ohio, the company will be replacing 6,000 feet of steel
main from as early as the 1930s with modern, plastic pipe in New Concord. Streets located between Layton Drive and Delaware Street on the village’s east end will be affected. The process begins by replacing the main, then moving to the service lines. That’s the part that Cartmill said will impact customers the most. Upon completion, the project will allow for business expansion and use of generators as the entire village will move from low to medium pressure. During a public meeting at Village Hall on March 29, New Concord residents had the opportunity to learn about the project from Columbia Gas of Ohio representatives. A big concern for those present was transportation.
. LAYTON DR
Christine Holmes Assignment Editor
PLUM ALY.
MAPLE AVE.
Photo courtesy of Columbia Gas of Ohio Columbia Gas of Ohio is replacing old gas lines in New Concord, at no cost to the residents or the village, beginning in early-mid April.