Student Group Takes a Second Look at Housing

Students have felt the effects of the on-campus housing shortage since their arrival in September. Now eight students have come together in a private reading to form the Residential Design Initiative (RDI) under the guidance of Environmental Studies professor David Orr. Their goal is to compile input for the purpose of solving the current lack of housing space challenging the College. Last weekend the Initiative held a well-attended "brainstorming" session, attracting students, administration and even an area landlord.

Due to the loss of beds resulting from the demolition of the south wing of Barrows and unusually large matriculation numbers, students were forced to accept temporary housing in dorm lounges and former doubles had to be converted to tiny triples. According to Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith, there has been no construction of residential halls at Oberlin since 1968, when the institution had 400 fewer students and architecture was of a different style. He commented that campus architecture has been "frozen in time," saying, "There has been some serious discussion within the administration about creating new residential spaces on campus."

Goldsmith addressed the fact that 30 percent of Oberlin College students currently live off-campus, citing the detrimental effects on the community due to this large amount. He pointed to the constriction of the local housing market for low-income families and students' decreasing ability to take advantage of the "real learning" that takes place in an on-campus community as chief drawbacks.

Goldsmith cited two ways the College may pursue construction: the development of currently underutilized space and the construction of new buildings. With construction of some kind looking likely, enthusiastic discussion at last weekend's meeting generated ideas about possibilities for the future.

"We believe that the space we inhabit shapes the character and quality of our lives," RDI member Casey Pickett said. He added that an inspiring dorm can constitute an expansion of a person's existence. The meeting queried as to the meaning of membership in the College community, as well as the larger Oberlin community. RDI members stated that on-campus housing can be made more fun, inclusive of student values, inspiring, supportive, independent and positive.

Both Pickett and Goldsmith acknowledged upper-class students' desires for increased independence, a concern discussed both within the RDI and at last weekend's meeting. "We have residence halls which are at least serviceable in housing first- and second-year students, but we don't have the kind of amenities that students might, quite reasonably, look for in their junior and senior years," Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith and Pickett suggested that the RDI attempt to create options designed to attract upperclassman back to campus, including suites with kitchens and other conveniences to place students in a more independent atmosphere. Furthermore, both emphasized that it was a priority of the administration and RDI to avoid "fill in the blank" halls, such as Dascomb and South. Goldsmith also emphasized that there will always be a significant number of College students living off-campus, and that the faculty only wants to improve on-campus options and not discontinue the off-campus option.

Pickett and Goldsmith each emphatically stated that this process will involve the entire Oberlin community. RDI member Orion Walker said, "We need to hear people's voices," while Pickett reiterated that one of RDI's goals was to excite people about the initiative. "[RDI] wants to be sure and incorporate as many students as possible; this is a real chance for people to do lasting things," Pickett said.

"In all of the conversations, it has been crucially important to ensure that we involve students continually in the design process, Goldsmith said, noting the process will "start very, very incrementally." The RDI also has begun to involve members of the Oberlin community in their discussions. Assistant Director of Residential Life Michele Gross and Interim Association Dean and Director of Residential Life Yeworkwha Belachew attended the meeting, as well as David Sonner, a local landlord.

Belachew expressed enthusiasm about the meeting, saying, "This kind of initiative is always exciting." She also said students' ideas should have been listened to earlier, as it makes the administrators' jobs easier.

Sonner proved equally enthusiastic, saying, "These eight students believe that students should not be passive. I have lived in Oberlin for 32 years, and Saturday was one of the best days of those years."

The sentiments of Junior Andy Karlson-Weber matched both Belachew's and Sonner's. "It blew me away - the level and intensity of student interest," he said. "I feel like this is a great opportunity to make peoples' voices heard."

All parties involved in the RDI and Saturday's meeting voiced short-term plans to increase interest in discussion. As of yet, no definite building plans exist. The RDI's long-term plans include a presentation to the College with a document containing conclusions on design criteria for new residential spaces.

Throughout the rest of the semester the RDI will hold brainstorming sessions and speakers in an attempt to further develop answers to the question of how Oberlin students will live as members of a college community as well as part of a larger community. A second brainstorming session is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, and will likely occur in the Adam Joseph Lewis Center.