YearOne freshman headed for Bashford, Thomson
Mary Slebodink
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: News
Upperclassmen will have to switch residence halls to make room for the 2009-2010 YearOne freshmen community, which will fill up Thomson and Bashford Halls.
Assistant Director of Residential Life Julie Blaszak said YearOne is a program that takes a large number of freshmen students and houses them together with a higher ratio of Residential Aides (RAs) in order to create a supportive living and learning community.
Blaszak said moving YearOne from Smith East to Thomson and Bashford next year will help the program achieve its goals by doubling its accommodation from about 120 to 240 students.
She said the community bathrooms in Thomson and Bashford will generate opportunities for students to leave their rooms and interact with residents on each floor.
"Some of the best conversations happen when you go to brush your teeth," Blaszak said.
She said she does not think many current students will object to the change.
"In past selections, we haven't had a lot of people choose Thomson or Bashford, so I don't think it will be much of a problem," she said.
However, freshman Marissa Ballard, who lives in Bashford, said she does not like being told she cannot live in Bashford next year, in part because all other residence halls, except Stuyvesant Hall, place four students in each room instead of two.
"Now, we have to find two new people to live with," Ballard said.
"And why do the freshmen get to walk to Thomson [Corner Store] in five seconds?"
Ballard added she does not think the community bathrooms in Bashford will help the freshmen bond more than they would in Smith East. She said she hardly ever meets people in the Bashford bathrooms because there are only two stalls.
"I do have friends in the hall, but I definitely didn't meet them in the bathroom," she said.
Freshman Deanna Breaux also lives in Thomson, and she said she believes moving YearOne from Smith East will isolate the freshmen from experienced students.
Assistant Director of Residential Life Julie Blaszak said YearOne is a program that takes a large number of freshmen students and houses them together with a higher ratio of Residential Aides (RAs) in order to create a supportive living and learning community.
Blaszak said moving YearOne from Smith East to Thomson and Bashford next year will help the program achieve its goals by doubling its accommodation from about 120 to 240 students.
She said the community bathrooms in Thomson and Bashford will generate opportunities for students to leave their rooms and interact with residents on each floor.
"Some of the best conversations happen when you go to brush your teeth," Blaszak said.
She said she does not think many current students will object to the change.
"In past selections, we haven't had a lot of people choose Thomson or Bashford, so I don't think it will be much of a problem," she said.
However, freshman Marissa Ballard, who lives in Bashford, said she does not like being told she cannot live in Bashford next year, in part because all other residence halls, except Stuyvesant Hall, place four students in each room instead of two.
"Now, we have to find two new people to live with," Ballard said.
"And why do the freshmen get to walk to Thomson [Corner Store] in five seconds?"
Ballard added she does not think the community bathrooms in Bashford will help the freshmen bond more than they would in Smith East. She said she hardly ever meets people in the Bashford bathrooms because there are only two stalls.
"I do have friends in the hall, but I definitely didn't meet them in the bathroom," she said.
Freshman Deanna Breaux also lives in Thomson, and she said she believes moving YearOne from Smith East will isolate the freshmen from experienced students.
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