Orientation students to stay in apartments
University hopes students will stay on campus longer
By Lara Hendrickson
Staff Reporter

Incoming freshmen are no longer Colby-bound.

New students will now stay in the Tom Brown-Pete Wright Residential Community during Orientation, Carrie Zimmerman, director of first year experiences, said Thursday.

Incoming freshmen used to stay in Colby Hall.

Zimmerman said the purpose of the move is to encourage students to stay on campus longer than the required one year.

“Not every college has cool on-campus apartments,” Zimmerman said. “Some upperclassmen have never even been in them. They are this forbidden fortress. But we want you to stay on campus, so we are showing the freshmen our best.”

Some students agreed the move could convince incoming students to live on campus longer, but said it was false advertising.

“Obviously, there is no comparison between Tom Brown-Pete Wright and Colby,” said Cole Bryan, a sophomore political science major who lives in the on-campus apartments. “So in a sense it is unfair. But this could also promote the great living facilities we have right on campus.”

Zimmerman disputed the claim, saying incoming freshmen will never be told they will live in the on-campus apartments.

“Saying this is unfair advertising is like saying it was unfair advertising for guys to live in Colby,” Zimmerman said. “Unless people stayed in the exact room they were going to live in, any room could be called that.”

Bryan said he was worried orientation students would not take care of the rooms.

“Everyone around us has respect for the buildings and they are much more mature than your average incoming freshman,” Bryan said. “I would hate to come back next year and see my apartment in disrepair.”

Zimmerman said maid services after Orientation will be brought in to ensure good condition of the apartments.

Not all students were skeptical of the move.

Tom Brown-Pete Wright resident Heath Coffman, a junior English and political science major, said he is not concerned about damage to his room or giving the freshmen false hope.

“There isn’t enough time spent in the rooms during orientation to do any damage,” Coffman said. “Also, it is not unfair advertising because the freshmen know their housing is different. I think they would appreciate the housing upgrade.”

Freshman theater major Kat Thomas said she would have appreciated the opportunity to stay in the on-campus apartments.

“It’s not as if an 18-year-old is going to wreck a (residence hall),” Thomas said. “Also, it will be a great opportunity to meet more people, which is something every incoming freshmen wants to do.”

Zimmerman said sharing a suite with four or five people rather than a room with one will increase the likelihood that students will adapt to living with other people or find a roommate for the fall.

She also said the move from Colby will help TCU with booking summer camps.

“The on-campus apartments are really too nice for little kids to stay in,” Zimmerman said. “Colby can now be used for high school and younger kids.”

l.c.hendrickson@tcu.edu