Spring Break
Renovation for midyear dorm unlikely for next fall
by Lital Shair
News | 11/6/07
Posted online at 4:48 AM EST on 11/6/07
Each fall for the last four years, the University has renovated a first-year dorm for the midyear class that arrives in January. Midyear students have agreed overwhelmingly that having their own dorm alleviated much anxiety about transitioning into Brandeis.
But budget constraints may prevent the University from renovating a dorm for the midyear Class of 2012, administrators said. Although the budget for next year isn't finalized yet, Vice President for Campus Operations Mark Collins said because sprinklers are being installed in one or two Charles River Apartments over the summer, a project that will cost around $1 million, it's unlikely a dorm for midyears will be renovated next fall.
"There's a finite amount of resources and time to get stuff done over the course of the summer," Collins said. "I don't anticipate a freshmen dorm being done [next] fall."
The midyear program will continue, but it's unclear where these students will live, Richard DeCapua, director of residence life, said, adding that he would like the midyears to stay together nonetheless.
"You could conceivably have midyears come into ... half a building in East [Quad]," Sawyer wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "but the most important thing is that all the midyears be together."
Scheffres, Gordon and Renfield halls have undergone renovations that each cost around $1 million, and Deroy's renovations are underway, Collins said.
The first midyear class, which arrived January 2004, was dispersed throughout campus housing.
"I think that it was a challenge because [the midyears] were all interspersed," said Associate Director of Student Life Maggie Balch, who served as director of residence life when the first midyear class arrived.
Brian Paternostro '07, a member of that class, said the midyear living arrangement made for a somewhat difficult adjustment to Brandeis life.
"We lived wherever there was space," Paternostro said. "I think my class had a more awkward integration into the Brandeis community.
But budget constraints may prevent the University from renovating a dorm for the midyear Class of 2012, administrators said. Although the budget for next year isn't finalized yet, Vice President for Campus Operations Mark Collins said because sprinklers are being installed in one or two Charles River Apartments over the summer, a project that will cost around $1 million, it's unlikely a dorm for midyears will be renovated next fall.
"There's a finite amount of resources and time to get stuff done over the course of the summer," Collins said. "I don't anticipate a freshmen dorm being done [next] fall."
The midyear program will continue, but it's unclear where these students will live, Richard DeCapua, director of residence life, said, adding that he would like the midyears to stay together nonetheless.
"You could conceivably have midyears come into ... half a building in East [Quad]," Sawyer wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "but the most important thing is that all the midyears be together."
Scheffres, Gordon and Renfield halls have undergone renovations that each cost around $1 million, and Deroy's renovations are underway, Collins said.
The first midyear class, which arrived January 2004, was dispersed throughout campus housing.
"I think that it was a challenge because [the midyears] were all interspersed," said Associate Director of Student Life Maggie Balch, who served as director of residence life when the first midyear class arrived.
Brian Paternostro '07, a member of that class, said the midyear living arrangement made for a somewhat difficult adjustment to Brandeis life.
"We lived wherever there was space," Paternostro said. "I think my class had a more awkward integration into the Brandeis community.
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