Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

PHOTO BY SARAH EZELL

Village IV under construction

By Nathaniel Swann

kemorris@vwc.edu

In about four months, the campus will celebrate a new addition to the residential community. The long-awaited Village IV will finally be completed, and the number of students living on campus will increase again.

However, students awaiting their new living space in the townhouses of Village IV have to live somewhere, and that place is the Lake Wright hotel, on the opposite side of Northampton Boulevard.

Like with every living situation, some students have complaints about the Lake Wright setup.

 I wish we had refrigerators, said Laura Madson,  And didn t have to pay $6 for two loads of laundry. We pay the same amount as (those living in Village I), except without free laundry.

 All the amenities are still there, said J.R. Ennis,  Except storage.

 The hardest thing is the internet, said Kim Fahl.,  There are too many people, so you usually never get on at night.

Not everything about the Lake Wright is negative though.

 The showers are better than the ones (on campus), said Warren Maddox,  and there is no timed lock-out to get on any floors.

 I have no problem parking at the hotel, said Fahle.

The big question is whether those living at the Lake Wright are still residents, or just glorified commuters.

 I m still a resident, said Ennis.  But disconnected with what s happening on campus.

 I m connected to people in the hotel, said Fahle.  But I feel a little like a commuter.

 When things are going on campus,sometimes we don t know about it, said Madson

So what makes Village IV stand apart from the rest of the campus?

Village IV will include six buildings with four townhouses per building for a total of ninety-six beds. Each townhouse will have four bedrooms, two baths, one kitchen, one living room and one laundry area with a washer and dryer. Kitchens will be equipped with refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, cook tops, disposals and microwaves. The buildings will also be more environmentally conscious.

There are few differences between the current townhouses in Village III and the new townhouses in Village IV.

 The townhouses in Village IV have a little more square footage, said Carolyn Hughes, Director of Residence Life.

 The windows are more  residential in their design, says Bruce Vaughan, Vice President of Operations,  And different porches. They are basically the same otherwise.

Vaughan also confirmed that the townhouses are currently  on schedule for spring semester.

Both Vaughan and Hughes expect the Lake Wright to be empty in the spring.

 It s coming along well, said Hughes.  I m excited.

So with the clock ticking and the construction continuing, those in the Lake Wright will wait it out, whether they enjoy the setup or not.

 I keep thinking of Village IV, and how good it will be, said Ennis.  So it s worth it.