Welcome back to UMass Dartmouth

By Stephanie Luz

R.O.C. members help speed up the move-in process.

Campus sprung to life this Labor Day Weekend as more than 4,600 students moved into the residential halls.

As there are many returning students this year, there are also many new faces on campus, especially with the arrival of the largest freshman class in UMass Dartmouth history.

Freshman and sophomore Residential Halls made accommodations for the increase in students with the removal of common rooms. These areas were converted into living spaces which fit up to four roommates.

Other spaces on campus were also sacrificed to accommodate the increased volume of incoming students. This includes the study areas in Oak Glen, the multipurpose room in Chestnut Hall, and some other areas in the Freshman Halls.

Many students and families waited two hours in their cars as policemen directed them to the appropriate halls to unload their belongings on the sidewalks.

A mother of a Chestnut Hall resident, Lindsey Monahan, said that even with the long wait, “[Move-in] ran as smoothly as it could for the amount of activity going on.”

Resident Open Congress (ROC) was found all over the move-in scene in their light blue t-shirts. ROC students moved in three days earlier than the scheduled move-in days. Groups of ROC students helped families move heavy valuables such as refrigerators into their rooms. ROC volunteer, David Heng said, “I must have carried over 50 fridges up and down Maple Ridge stairwells.”

Half of the Cedar Dell was also opened with what some Office of Housing and Residential Life (OHRL) staff call a “rough start.” There was some last minute preparation for move-in but despite these complications, it was very good news for many residents such as Patrick Canary. Canary said that he was very excited for the opening of “the Dell” which was closed last year because it was in need of extensive repairs.

On the other end of move-in, Residential Assistants (RAs) and Residential Directors (RDs) worked non-stop to check-in residents between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Their work went unnoticed as many students were moved to their rooms with a smile. Daniela Sousa, an RA in Chestnut Hall said, “I’m tired but [move-in] is going well!” Sousa also said, “It’s exciting to see so many faces on campus.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Jean Kim, the new Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, was seen walking from residential hall to residential hall greeting new students and families, as well as the OHRL staff.

Wearing a bright blue shirt and yellow cap, Dr. Kim sported the UMass Dartmouth colors and had a smiling face as she walked about campus watching a once empty ghost town turn into a bustling campus community.

Cars filled with residents anxious to move in lined up behind the freshman dorms during the weekend move in.

The UMD girls' soccer team helps freshmen at Roberts hall move in.

Dell South reopens after four months of renovations

By Katie Bresnahan

Newly renovated Cedar Dell South, to the left, reopened over Labor Day Weekend, while Cedar Dell West, to the right, is scheduled to undergo similar renovations and open for the fall 2008 semester.

Cedar Dell South, which has been closed since December of 2005, reopened this Labor Day weekend.

“Cedar Dell was closed in order to perform renovations. We are re-opening as planned this fall to meet the increased student interest for on-campus housing,” said Director of Housing and Residential Life, Victor Culatta. He stated, “Cedar Dell was closed in order to perform renovations.”

“Studies to determine the scope of work and design occurred during the spring semester 2007 and the actual renovations took approximately four months,” said Culatta.

When students moved back into Dell South last weekend they found many things new to the complex.

On the inside there is all new furniture in the living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens; newly painted walls and ceilings; mini-blinds on all windows; freshly stained doors and banisters; new counter-tops, sinks and faucets in the kitchens; reinforced railings and banisters; new carpet and tiled floors in all living areas; new mirrors in bedrooms and bathrooms; new towel bars; enhanced lighting and new showers with bath tubs in all bathrooms.

System upgrades include new boilers, water heaters, controls and radiation; GFCI electrical units and new data and phone lines.

The renovations also include new safety measures. These include a new fire alarm system, a sprinkler system throughout the complex and in all apartments, a new key system and security screens on all windows.

The exterior of Cedar Dell South was also completely renovated. New 30-year architectural shingle roofs, new entry doors, rot resistant trim, color through cement board hardiplank siding, new exterior gutters and downspouts, structural repairs to existing framing, selected concrete stoop replacement and column support, exterior landscaping including new shrubs, flowering plants, and indigenous plants were the new features.

“Renovated community room in Commons Building including redesigned lounge [and] recreational space and new student mailboxes [were also added],” Culatta noted.

The reoccupation of Cedar Dell South came to a sudden halt last Thursday night. Early move-in students were allowed to move into the complex starting Thursday afternoon. “Late on Thursday, the University was notified that students would not be permitted to sleep in the Dell on Thursday evening but they could keep their personal belongings in their rooms. The students who checked in early to the Dell on Thursday were notified late Thursday night that they would need to be relocated temporarily just for the night,” said Culatta. He added, “Students returned to the Dell on Friday.”

Culatta said that he has received all positive feedback about Dell South thus far, stating “I am very pleased that our students like what the University did to enhance the Dell.” He added, “Completion of this project provides additional first rate housing for UMass Dartmouth students. I hope our students appreciate the resources invested in creating these accommodations and respect the facilities by maintaining them.”

Culatta also mentioned that the Office of Housing and Residential Life is planning to “enhance the exterior landscape in the Dell next spring.”

Cedar Dell West is scheduled to undergo similar renovations and reopen in September 2008.