Harkness gets new furniture

Some may think Harkness House is an odd place for a furniture showing, but on Thursday afternoon the co-op's first floor lounge was inundated with unique model dorm room set-ups ranging from traditional to high-tech for students to view.

The showing was organized by the College's Residential Life and Services department in order to provide Harkness residents a chance to choose which furniture will replace the pieces currently in their dorm rooms. Renovations are scheduled to take place this summer and will be complete by the time students return to school in August.

Assistant Director of Facilities Dennis Rupert and Assistant Director of Residential Life Michele Gross spent last Fall narrowing down a large list of furniture companies, choosing three to display models to interested students.

"We definitely tried to bring in groups that had a different spice to them," Rupert said. "We choose them specifically for their different wood, recycled or completely modular looks."

Students attending the showing had a variety of choices to examine. Although Rupert said the costs of all the models were comparable, the similarities between the three ended there.

The EcoLogic company boasted a bed, workspace and storage unit made 97.5 percent out of recycled material, including milk bottles, newspapers and soy resin.

"Our furniture has been designed very differently than most units," EcoLogic President Steve Lee said. "One distinct advantage is that the ecolumber we use is much stronger than oak. Even a sledgehammer wouldn't dent it. Its price is cheaper than wood, as well."

Representatives from Kruger International (KI) emphasized the importance of designing furniture around today's technological needs.

"Technology is a big issue on campuses today. Our model is geared for technology awareness; students have access to a flip-up module that accepts phone and internet and computer connections. It sits right on the workspace and doesn't take up much room; it also eliminates trip hazards because there are no wires lying in the middle of the room," Kruger representative Jody Jaraczewski said.

Other advanced features of the KI model include built-in storage space for televisions and overhead storage with flip-down doors to eliminate the need for open shelving, Jaraczewski said.

Jason Rockwell of the New England Woodcraft company has manufactured dorm furniture for many Ohio schools, including Case Western University, Baldwin Wallace College and Denison University. His company also provided furniture to Georgia Tech and Georgia State Universities for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Rockwell emphasized the benefits of the traditional wood model.

"The easy-lock bed of this model has 10 different settings, and students have the flexibility to change the appearance themselves. We also try to be as environmentally conscious as we can; we don't use any rain forest products, we use an environmentally safe finish and we buy our wood from Northern Pennsylvania," he said.

Students examined the furniture and filled out evaluations according to their likes and dislikes. They had a variety of responses to the showing and to the specific models.

"I think it's kind of weird having all these people in here trying to sell us stuff, but it's nice that ResLife is giving us the option to see which we like best," first-year Joanna Monk said. "I like the EcoLogic one, not because of its appearance but because of what it's made out of. It's also cheaper and both recycled and recyclable again when we're done with it."

Rupert said the recycling theme is a popular one among students. "We've already made a commitment to students to put in recycled carpeting. We got a lot of feedback on recycled products, I think because this is Oberlin," he said.

Junior Tickey Makgopela couldn't decide if she liked the EcoLogic of KI model better. "I don't know how much it's really going to matter, though, because a lot of people don't sleep on their beds. They take the mattress off the bed and sleep on the floor. It may come down to what's most durable and flexible and easily taken apart," she said.

First-year Lynn Hickman agreed. "The KI model was my favorite because it can be taken apart and put back together in different ways. That's important because the people in Harkness don't like beds," she said.

Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) President Jenn Carter said her favorite was far and away the KI model. "Everyone's on the same page about not wanting the standard furniture we have now. The KI looks indestructible," she said.

Rupert and Gross were pleased with the turnout of students at the furniture showing. "This was very successful today. Time is of the essence now; we have to keep moving our process along so we can get timelines made and have everything done by August. Right now we're moving along very well," Rupert said.

Gross said dorm room furniture will be selected in the next month based on student and staff member evaluations.

"My guess is we'll wait until we've gotten lounge furniture determined. We want to make sure everything is thought through," she said.

Evaluations: Students choose their favorite units. (photo by John Matney)

High-tech: Harkness residents got a glimpse of the possibilities for this summer's upcoming renovations. (photo by John Matney)