Going to college is a passage during life that a number of people will go through. But finding where to live in college is one of the essential choices to make before starting the elongated passage. The living place is an important aspect of college life because it is the place that students can return to and make it a home during college seasons as well as trying not to break the bank. Another thing to account for is interactions with others during your college life. The importance of balance between school and social interaction is very important to remain successful during college careers. The University Commons is a significant place to begin one’s journey into college life. It incorporates suit style living with modern community living, bringing both worlds together while being able to interact with people who are also new or returning college students. It creates a community for students to relate and interact with.
The thought behind building the commons was to replace the old Kerr-Drummond community living that has been around for decades. Those community dorms have seen generations of students throughout OSU and have been home to all. In part of the renovations to student living, Kerr-Drummond will be torn down by the end of Spring 2018. One of the major parts of Kerr-Drummond is being options for low income students who need to live on campus. Those buildings serve as a community that is central in the university , giving access to all of campus. In order to replace these historically significant living communities and provide something of equal value, the commons became ideal. Although the commons aren’t as cheap as the Kerr-Drummond dorms they make up for it with the suit additions that are configured into the traditional styled living.
University Commons are all very similar aesthetically from outside to inside. They have the Gregorian exterior with large pillars in front giving it an antique look with a modern twist. They are all labeled as North, South, and West. Inside of the West Commons the mail and front desk are there accessible for all the commons residents. The sidewalk is structured to help arrive to a destination instead of just random pathways. They are all similar outside but the inside differ in slight ways. They all have a central living room type of area for everyone to gather and study, watch films, or even cook inside the kitchen next to the space. Every floor has many bathrooms to accommodate all people living. The building also has many windows giving the building an open lighted feel instead of dark and closed away, giving a lively and welcoming feel to the building helping with the atmosphere of dorms themselves. Each floor has a main living room enclosed with glass, giving the space an open concept as well as other glass encased study rooms with windows allowing natural light inside. They all have rooms for two students with a window in between the two sides. These buildings give off a modern yet traditional feeling allowing students access to suit style amenities but also staying inside the means of dorm living. The use of greenery throughout the landscape also gives a luxurious feel to the commons while still being cheaper than suits.
The significance of being a traditional housing but having the modernization of student living helps keep the traditional living, giving combination of both modern luxury suit living while still being apart of the traditional setting, best of both worlds for the least amount of expense. Commons also allow for new low income incoming students to see what it’s like to live like “traditional” college students have lived before the suits but also the luxurious feel of suits. Which gives a path for building a community of long lasting friends. It also helps new students to interact with each other and creates a sense of home away from home. Also is significantly cheaper than the new style suits.
Although the commons have great amenities, they are also priced higher than normal traditional dorms and seem overrated to some students. The commons have all qualities of a traditional dorm but is upgraded and is structurally more modern on the inside. The increase in price is merely for the moderinzation and the buidling being newer that the other traditional. The commons is far from the main campus being a hassle for students to get to class because of the long walk. Another bad quality of the commons is that the parking lot assigned for the tents of the Commons is to be cleared for RV donors on friday to sunday every homegame. Which is a huge incconvience for the students who live there because they will have to move their veichal to an overflow lot and then move it back on sunday afternoons. These qualities make the commons seem like a waste of money.
The commons also have community mentors who aid in helping incoming and returning students navigate and help with everyday problems, so that students are not truly alone. They are the mediators of the building aiding in anything students could possibly need, like a support system. The commons also have the residence hall council that help come up with activities and events for the students living at the commons allowing for friendships to be made with bonding at these events. Any student can become a community mentor as long as they have lived there for at least one semester. The events put on buy the association help create a sense of community throughout the three commons, connecting them even if they are all slightly different communities in themselves. Each floor allows for a community within themselves as well since there are mentors on each floor, having meetings and coming up with events with each other allowing access to all sorts of interactions that are needed for new students. The commons themselves allow for so many types of social events and interactions that are essential to all incoming students.
The lawn in between to the University Commons was built as an activities lawn for students to go outside and enjoy the lawn with other students. It also serves as an activity area for all three of the commons to come together and socialize with each other. North Dining was built also to accommodate the Commons to give another option of dining, offering multiple places in one setting. It also gives way for students to meet other people while enjoying food. Residence halls have planners who help the students participate in a variety of events to help them mingle with other students and help create a community, a “family” of some sorts. There is also a specific parking lot dedicated to the commons to ensure the safety of all students. These all play an important role in helping incoming freshmen integrate into college life while giving them comfort in their living situations. With that being said it is a living option all incoming freshmen should address, especially the low income students who are looking for a reasonably priced option of living but also able to access all the amenities of deluxe suits as well as having as much interactions as possible to create a community of others they can all relate to. The mentors can also provide a sense of home by helping the students socialize with other students. Low income students would find that the commons offers everything needed and more to make the college experience even more impressionable but also allowing for areas of peace and quiet.
References
“5 Favorite Features: OSU University Commons.” KSQ Design, 10 May 2016, ksq.design/5-favorite-features-osu-university-commons/.
McNutt, K.S. “Oklahoma State University's New Dorms Help Students Find Common Ground.” NewsOK.com, NewsOK, 2 Nov.2015,newsok.com/article/5457344/oklahoma-state-universitys-new-dorms-help-students-find-common-ground.
Nojeda. “University Commons.” Housing & Residential Life, 12 Oct. 2015, reslife.okstate.edu/housing/university-commons.
Allen, Silas. “In Age of Campus Suites, a New Oklahoma State University Dorm Will Be Built in Traditional Style.” NewsOK.com, NewsOK, 9 Aug. 2013, newsok.com/article/3870353/in-age-of-campus-suites-a-new-oklahoma-state-university-dorm-will-be-built-in-traditional-style.
Baden, Alli. “OSU Students Required to Move Vehicles from Lot 74 for Football Games.” Ocolly.com, 29 Aug. 2017, www.ocolly.com/news/osu-students-required-to-move-vehicles-from-lot-for-football/article_052a6562-8d1a-11e7-b455-f7547c9f591c.html.
Doan, Nhan. “Residential Life Announces Closure of Drummond Hall.” Ocolly.com, 13 Mar. 2018, www.ocolly.com/news/residential-life-announces-closure-of-drummond-hall/article_46b487d2-2703-11e8-9a05-57e2f67ae30e.html.