Each year, the Keene State College Residential Life staff plans out a budget for housing improvements that are to be completed over the summer.
When asked about upcoming residential life improvements, Residence Hall Director Casey Wilson said, “Other than our typical renovations that we do in the summer, there is not much.”
Jim Carley, associate director for facilities and business operations at KSC, stated, “We will be installing new heating elements in all five Pondside II buildings and removing the built-in desks the D wing of Carle.“
Residence Hall Director Megan Barbato said, “There is a whole master plan in the process. The college is working with an outside architecture firm, Sasaki (Associates Inc.), to build new housing.”
Barbato continued, “At this point this is a twenty-year plan, although this may be subject to change.”
Cassidy Hunkins / Equinox Staff
Some students would like to see more elaborate changes in housing. Sophomore Joseph Cocivera said, “The water pressure in the sinks is pretty bad.”
Senior Melissa Jellie stated, “I think the water pressure is the way it is in order to help save water, but I think the school could find a better way to save water and still have sinks that have more water pressure.” Jellie, a Pondside III resident, also mentioned, “All of the buildings should have laundry areas available on every floor.”
Cocivera, a Butler Court resident, said, “I don’t like how Butler has only a first floor laundry area. I think they should have one on every floor.”
Other students would like to see at least one laundry room in their residential hall. Stephen Doherty, an Owl’s Nest resident, said, “Having the laundry building across the street is a mild inconvenience. But I see people who live off campus use it and it is not that expensive, so it is good for them.” Doherty said, “I’d like to see improvements to the bathrooms in Owl’s Nest too, it is kind of a poor set up for a communal bathroom.” The sophomore went on to say, “I would also like to see a room just for studying in the building because there is just a common room now and you’ll go in there to do work but a lot of times people will be watching T.V.”
Jellie stated that she would, “Like to see more eco-friendly housing.” She added, “I know the heat in Pondside 3 is set up to go off if someone has their windows open, to save energy. I like that and think every building should be like that.”
Alumnus Christopher Smith said, “I would like to have seen more options for food in the actual dorms when I was here [at KSC].”
Sophomore Christopher Dejohn also said, “I would like to see more food options, a food court, or better vending machine options.”
Jellie said, “I would like to see better drink options in the vending machines; its mostly soda, and they could give a better variety to people who don’t really drink soda.”
Sophomore and Butler resident Elton Purvis said, “Even just a Bean and Bagel type set up in dorm lobbies, would be nice.”
Dejohn, a Butler resident, went on to say, “I would like to see more study rooms, because I feel like they are always full.”
Resident Assistant in Pondside 3 Justin Smith said, “An ideal community would also incorporate learning. I would like to see a floor of people with similar majors, from different age groups so that students could make connections and learn from each other.”
Zach Fournier can be contacted at zfournier@keene-equinox.com