Ground broken for new dorm

By Michelle Allen

New residence halls construction gives Western 250 beds for upper classmen to lay their heads.

Acting Director of the Office of Residential Life Sean O’Reilly shared his views on how he feels students will react to the new residential halls that will be built.

“I believe that students will want more housing just like it,” O’Reilly said. “While many students want to be independent and have some control over their own space, students living on campus have the advantage of being included in the camaraderie everyone feels when they living with lots of people they know.”

Construction on the new residential halls has already begun and it is expected to be completed next August.

There will be three new residence halls built in one central area, located in the rear of Scanlon Hall. The three new residence halls will be an apartment like suite – four students will share a kitchen and two residents will share a bathroom. The costs of the new residential halls are estimated at $15 million.

Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Esther Peralez hopes more students will be drawn to Western due to the new residence halls.

“We were losing a lot of our upperclassmen,” Peralez said. “We need more juniors and seniors on campus to be positive role models for the incoming freshmen.”

This is due to the cost of design, construction and furnishing a building such as this is paid for with Auxiliary funds and not university funds, O’Reilly said.

“The cost of building will not have a negative impact on the university budget,” O’Reilly said. “It can positively impact the university by allowing more students to attend each year.”

Residential Assistant Deraan Washington shared her views on the new resident halls.

“I think that the new residence halls will be very beneficial to Missouri Western,” Washington said.

Washington’s experience over the summer made it clear that the new residence halls are needed.

“While working the commons desk over the summer, there were a lot of students who needed housing that we had to turn away because there was no room,” Washington said.

Residential Hall Director of the Suites Marqita Jones hopes that the new halls will bring back students that are no longer on campus due to a waiting list that exceed 100 each fall.

“Hopefully it will bring students who may have moved off campus back,” Jones said.

Jones feels the new resident halls will make student more independent and O’Reilly agrees.

“Off campus housing and apartment complexes offer privacy and a sense of independence,” O’Reilly said. “Many find it a lonely place to live also. Too many people keep to themselves. I get the feeling the new building will fill quickly, and remain full throughout the years.”

Peralez assures students that the new residence halls will not have any effect on the school’s tuition.