The Corne¬ Daily Sun
PAGE 10 | Student Guide | HOUSING
Where to
FRESHMAN ISSUE 2012
Live
North Campus Dorms Ready for Class of 2016 Clara Dickson Hall
By SUN STAFF
In the 1900s, the Cornell student body was housed entirely in fraternities and boarding houses — no real dormitories existed. According to Cornell: Glorious to View, a history of Cornell written by Profs. Carol Kammen and Walter LaFeber, history, Andrew Dickson White, Cornell’s founder and first president, believed students should live on their own. Clearly, times have changed. Now required to live on campus, the Class of 2016 arrives at Cornell with a plethora of housing options, ranging from traditional residence halls — described below — to more specialized program houses. Balch Hall
Balch Hall, an all-women’s residence, was constructed in the 1920s as the second dormitory on North Campus, according to Cornell Then and Now by Prof. Ronald Ostman, communication. Generations of Cornellians and architectural trends later, Balch’s Gothic style and ivy-covered exterior continue to exude a timeless and classically collegiate character. “Balch is one of my favorites. The rooms are uniquely shaped, and the dormer windows are beautiful on the fifth and sixth floors,” said Karen Brown, director of marketing and communications for Campus Life. The rooms in Balch are also the most spacious of all the North Campus dorms, according to former residential advisor Doug Weinberg ’08. Another big plus: Most rooms have a sink, either in the room itself or connected to an adjacent room.
Named after A.D.White’s mother, Clara Dickson Hall has also held the unusual nickname, “The Big Dick,” according to Weinberg. The dormitory was originally intended to house only females, but is now is co-ed. Almost 500 students can fit in this five-story dormitory, the largest in the Ivy League, according to former residential advisor Mazdak Asgary ’08. Not quite so conveniently, however, Dickson has only four bathrooms per floor. Clara Dickson Hall is also full of single rooms, a rarity for freshmen at most colleges. Many rooms stand on long hallways with lounges in the middle. Court-Kay-Bauer Hall
Opened in 2001, this residence conveniently features the air conditioning other dormitories lack. While Ithaca does live up to its reputation of frigid winters, cool air is definitely welcome on those first few humid days of school. Such small perks have given the dorm its nickname, “Court Resort.” As one of the most modern dormitories, Court-Kay-Bauer Hall also boasts brightly painted walls and comfortable common areas. But all is fair, or pretty fair, in dormitory life, as the rooms in the Court-Kay-Bauer Community are also known to have walls that are almost paper thin, according to Weinberg. Mews Hall
Along with Court-Kay-Bauer, Mews Hall represents the latest in dormitories on North Campus. According to Asgary, the structure and facilities of the building closely mirror that of Court-Kay-Bauer Hall. Mews also contains 22 lounges, including
the spacious, semicircular Lund Lounge that overlooks Rawlings Green. Traditional activities include a male talent show, ice skating, and a trip to the United Nations. Mews residents also enjoy convenient proximity to Appel Commons.
Constructed at a time of high economic inflation, the Low Rises were built to be long-standing, according to Brown. A typical suite consists of one bathroom, two double rooms and two single rooms.
Mary Donlon Hall
In the midst of rural Ithaca, High Rise 5 and Jameson do their best to stir up a bit of urban life with their architectural styles intended to resemble city living. Their organization is very similar to that of the Low Rises, also with suites “designed to foster interactions within the community,” according to Brown. The most distinctive feature of the High Rises is arguably their Sky Lounges. Located on the top floor of each building, they provide an unparalleled panoramic view of North Campus.
Some say that Donlon Hall is “thongshaped,” a description somewhat fitting considering its reputation for being a social dormitory. “Donlon is uniquely situated because of the way the rooms go off into wings. Residents all have to go into the middle for social activity,” Brown said. The majority of the rooms are doubles on co-ed corridors. While most bathrooms are single-sex, there is an occasional co-ed one. Socializing may be a constant for life in Donlon, but the dormitory also has a recently-renovated library on the first floor. The library was repainted and recarpeted, according to Brown, and serves as a quiet and convenient retreat for some serious studying. Low Rises 6 and 7
Step inside the Low Rises and you’ll feel like a rat in a maze. Winding corridors and unexpected turns are the norm in these dormitories. But at the time the buildings were constructed, the Low Rises’ small, somewhat isolated suites were a novel proposition. “The emphasis on building small communities was considered to be a wonderful approach in residential living. The Low Rises were planned from the beginning to serve as an asset in our quest to foster diversity and interaction among and between our students,” Brown said.
High Rise 5 and Jameson
Townhouse Community
Living in the Townhouses is basically like sharing an apartment. Built in 1989, each has two double rooms and a bathroom — but also a sizable dining room and living room, not to mention a kitchen. While most agree the Townhouses are more secluded than the rest of the North Campus dormitories, their location also makes for a quieter, more private environment. Bus stops located right outside the community come in handy for avoiding the long walk to Central Campus. Despite being on the periphery of North Campus, Townhouse residents are still fully able to participate in all that college life entails. “Residents have access to the Townhouse Community Center [and] also have easy access to Robert Purcell Community Center, just across the street,” Brown said.
ALINA LIU / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Archway | Balch Hall, an all-female dormitory, sits at the front of North Campus, welcoming freshmen through its central arch. Balch is one of the many North Campus dorms to house first-year students.
Program Houses Help Students Pursue Their Passions By SUN STAFF
All Cornellians, including freshmen, may apply to live in program houses, the majority of which are located on North Campus. The houses allow students with an interest in a particular theme to live together. Akwe:kon (pronounced “Agway-go”) is dedicated to Native American heritage. Its 35 residents share an interest in Native American culture, family and community. Many Akwe:kon members take part in an annual smoke dance and pow-wow, which also draws members of the greater Cornell and Ithaca communities. 96 students with a passion for
the environment can choose to live in the Ecology House. Typical events include environmental discussions, hikes and kayaking trips. The Holland International Living Center, more commonly known as HILC, is home to foreign students as well as those interested in global, political, economic, social and cultural issues. Members of HILC have the opportunity to learn about other countries without leaving Cornell. Some of the center’s programs include international affairs discussion groups, ice-cream hour and talent shows. Music lovers at Cornell can choose to live in Just About Music, known appropriately as JAM. The 144 residents range
from students who enjoy listening to music to students who sing or play musical instruments. Members of JAM can take advantage of the house’s pianos, drum set, CD library, practice rooms, concert stage, recording studio and weekly listening parties. The only program house situated on West Campus is the Language House, located in the Alice Cook House. The Language House is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors hoping to become fluent in Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish. Members watch movies, celebrate holidays from their target language’s countries and take trips to cities such as Montreal or New York City.
57 students interested in Latino culture live in the Latino Learning Center, or LLC, located in Anna Comstock Hall. Each week, in an event called “Café Con Leche,” students discuss issues facing Latino people across the world. Students hoping to learn about other cultures may decide to live in the Multicultural Living Learning Unit, known as McLLU and pronounced “McClue.” This program house is located in Clara Dickson Hall, a freshmen dormitory. Members of McLLU celebrate diversity by holding presentations and festivities centering on their assorted backgrounds. With 190 residents, Risley Residential College for Creative and Performing Arts is one of the
largest program houses on campus and has its own dining hall. Risley is also home to recording and video-editing studios. Some of the programs Risleyites host each year include concerts, shows and art exhibits. Ujamaa — pronounced “oo-jama” — is home to 140 students who share an interest in black history and culture. The name Ujamaa comes from a KiSwahilian word that roughly translates to “a community that works together as a family.” The house also focuses on advancing the academic and professional goals of its residents. Ujamaa’s members engage in discussion, hold dances and work with many off-campus social-action groups.