A “complete mess and utter disappointment” is how Dmitri Sarmiento, a junior residential student studying Computer Science is characterizing his experience in the newly-reopened Academic Village.
Students living in the AV are disappointed with the lack of air conditioning, wired internet access and kitchenettes. Students say the lack of kitchenette amenities leaves them with the cafeteria as their sole dining option.
Upon learning of the AVs reopening, students say they were initially excited for the “suite-style living” that they believed would come with “the independence of off-campus living” as advertised by the school. Yet when they arrived, they discovered there were no ovens, or anything other than a microwave that would allow them the independence of cooking their own meals.
Sarmiento says he believes the school was “unprepared” for the reopening of the AV, saying that it appeared as if his room had never been cleaned or inspected prior to his arrival. Adding that other students he knew arrived to rooms with “moldy mattresses and rusted bed frames.”
Director of Residential Life Gareth Shumack says that residential life staff inspect rooms and report any issues to the department prior to student arrivals.
Dreana Coombs, a junior, says that she was excited to move into the AV, given how it was advertised only to discover she had no access to an oven or stove in the AV, amenities she had grown accustomed to having in the Woodlands Halls.
Shumack says that the department is in the process of renovating the laundry room of the AV, transforming it into a “multi-purpose” facility; the laundry room already features a ping pong table, and may soon feature a kitchenette.
Sarmiento, says he hopes that unless it is renovated, the Academic Village will not be offered for residential students for the next school year. Sarmiento says that he was not expecting his new room to be nearly half the size of his old room in Woodlands. The lack of amenities is also a concern for Sarmiento who says he finds it harder to make friends and socialize in the AV. “In Woodlands, friends could come together and play pool in the lounge. Making it easy for anyone to come in and socialize, meet new people. We can’t do that in the AV,” he says.
Shumack says the Academic Village will be open in Fall ‘22 and will be the “upperclassman area” moving forward.
Concerns from other students such as Mihkai Green, a junior and Willis Chukwu, a senior, range from no access to cleaning staff for the AV bathrooms, meaning students may have to clean up after suitemates and small suite bathrooms, which feature one shower, one toilet and two sinks. The small size requires students to coordinate with their suitemates. This is a major frustration for students who were used to the four to five toilets, six sinks and four showers offered in Woodlands.
According to Shumack, the AV was reopened, among other reasons, to allow the school to implement its single-room policy under Covid-19 guidelines.
Shumack says he is not personally aware of any instances of rusted bed frames and moldy mattresses, but also he does not deny that it was true. Stating “I was not aware, but that does not mean it didn’t happen.”
Shumack says it is “disheartening” to hear that students are disappointed in the AV and says that the school is always working to improve the living situation for residential students. Adding that it is difficult to make significant renovations given the limited resources and infrastructure already in place.
Shumack also says that he does not feel the school or res life were misleading in their advertising of the Academic Village, adding “that all of the resources were there” in terms of how to find major differences between the AV and Woodlands and the amenities provided, “students just needed to do their research.” However, many students say the pictures of the rooms presented are not an accurate representation of the conditions.
Shumack is encouraging students to send over their suggestions and concerns to the Office of Residential Life by clicking this link.
