Wittenberg University’s Student Senate decided that the oldest campus residence halls are getting new face-lifts within the next couple of years to provide a new, inviting environment.
The upgrade project is receiving funding from Student Senate. Senate has committed to continue with the project until all of the main lounges in the residence halls are completed. The residence hall lounges will receive new paint, carpet and furniture in the refurbishing process.
“Student Senate approached me early last spring semester about the possibility of updating the lounges,” Mark DeVilbiss, associate dean for Residence Life, said. “I think they saw a need and were looking for a project that would benefit a lot of students in a very tangible way.”
The lounges that are included in the project are as follows: Ferncliff Hall formal lounge, Ferncliff Hall informal lounge, Tower Hall main lounge, Myers Hall first floor lounge, Myers Hall second floor lounge, Firestine Hall main lounge, Polis House main lounge and Woodlawn Hall main lounge.
To make the residence halls live up to the expectations, Student Senate has the total cost of improvements for all eight of the main lounges at just over $139,000.
New Hall resident, senior Michael Jordan, said. “It’s good for the new students coming in, and it helps attract students as well as satisfies the current students, to make the changes to keep the retention rate high, as well as [to] increase it.”
So far, the Myers and Tower lounges have been refurbished.
“The students I have spoken to so far have been delighted with the new furniture. They describe it as ‘comfortable’ and ‘nice-looking.’ Students asked us in the beginning to create spaces that looked more like a living room in a home, and I think we have achieved that with the new paint, carpet and furniture,” DeVilbiss said.
Tower Resident Advisor, sophomore Mecca Abdul-Aziz, said, “I love Tower’s new lounge. I feel like it makes the lounge more inviting. I can’t wait to see the rest of the lounges when they are finished.”
This project will likely take two to three years to complete.
