An ad hoc committee of the Office of Residential Life has proposed renovations to the Choates dormitories that would create two-room triples and two-room quads by connecting adjoining rooms.
The first part of the plan would create several two-room quads by removing the wall between rooms that are now one-room doubles. The proposal would also create two-room triples out of adjacent one-room singles and one-room doubles.
"The suggestion is one that is being kicked around," said Assistant Dean of Residential Life Bud Beatty. "It may or may not happen."
"We must first determine whether it is a feasible alternative," Beatty said. "If so, we will seek out some students to volunteer."
Lynn Rosenblum, ORL's housing assignments coordinator, said "one of two rooms may be renovated during the break between Fall and Winter terms."
Beatty "has asked the area coordinators in the Choates to see if volunteers can be found" to occupy the rooms, Rosenblum said.
The plan is aimed mainly at freshmen, said Jim Brennan '96, a member of the ad hoc committee on residential life.
"It's an alternative for freshmen, so they don't get stuck in a one-room double," Brennan said. "With the plan there would be three or four people in a room, but they would have a bedroom separate from the common room."
Amy Peller '96, another member of the committee, said the new arrangement would be better for freshmen.
"It's difficult for freshman who get stuck in a one-room double, especially if your roommate is up doing homework while you're trying to sleep," Peller said.
According to Peller, the Choates dormitories were selected for renovations because "the Choates is one of the least desirable places to live and we hope to make it more desirable."
"Also, the one-room doubles in the Choates are some of the smallest rooms on campus."
The ad hoc committee consists of Beatty, Rosenblum and five students including Peller and Brennan.
The committee was formed this year to "provide constructive criticism to ORL," Peller said.
Brennan said the other suggestions the committee has discussed include ORL computerizing the housing assignment process, installing dollar bill acceptors in the laundry rooms and averaging the priority numbers of students who wish to be roommates instead of the current practice of using the better of the two numbers.
