New housing is ready, newer housing on the way

Greek Village isn’t the only constructional addition to campus this year– the first phase of Maple Suites has already opened its doors to students.

Maple Suites, located on the corner of Maple and Holly Drives, has added 230 additional beds on campus and consists of two buildings.

Tom Kane, director of residence services, said the first phase of Maple Suites was originally designed for freshmen, but ironically, when the room assignments began in March, about 210 returning students signed up for the new housing.

“I think a lot of those students were Beta residents and were looking to move into suite-style housing and Maple is brand new,” Kane said.

Kiran Anglin, a resident in Maple, said he thinks the suites are nice, but similar to the other dorms. Anglin has lived in Kappa, Kosove and Delta.

“(Maple Suites) is like any other dorm, but it’s nicer because it’s brand new,” Anglin said.

Melonie Hohn, the resident assistant for the second floor of Maple A, said the reactions of students and parents have been pretty good so far except for some concern over a lack of water fountains and guest quarters. Other than that, Hohn said the design of the building is creating a community atmosphere.

“The common area is set in the center of the floor so everyone has to pass by the other residents to go anywhere, and this has helped build a community feeling,” Hohn said.

Kane said the second phase of Maple will house 600 students, 300 will be suite style bedrooms where four students share one bathroom with no kitchen or living room, and the other 300 will be apartment-style living similar to Magnolia.

Kane said Phase II of Maple, which will be located across from the current Maple suites, should be completed by fall 2004, along with the completion of the Beta renovations.

“The renovations for Beta are going to be the same as Castor,” Kane said. “Leave the rooms the way they are, but the carpeting, windows, paint, doors, electricity, Ethernet, cable TV and everything that makes the building work will be replaced.”

In addition, when Beta reopens it will be co-ed by wing so the building won’t be divided by an elevator lobby. Instead, the women will have a wing with their own bathroom and the men vice versa.

The additional housing is a necessity to accommodate the demand for on-campus housing. Kane said this year USF has filled 3,520 beds on campus and leased out Fontana Hall, which is located off campus, to add room for another 750 students. However, USF still turned away 300 students due to lack of beds.

“With the new projects, 900 beds will be added next year so that we will have 4,400 beds on campus for fall 2004, but I anticipate turning away a couple of hundred next year,” Kane said.