Living in Lounges

Fedel Estefanos lives in Lothrop Hall, like other freshmen his age.

But unlike most students in his year, Estefanos lives in a former lounge.

Freshmen send their housing deposits to the University and expect to receive permanent housing.

What Estefanos and others temporarily got instead was an overflow room — a bunk in a space with two or three other students, located in what used to be the common areas of Lothrop Hall and Towers.

Panther Central gave them notice that they might be told to move at any time throughout the year, Estefanos said.

“The fact that it’s temporary and that we might have to move at any time is pretty d*** frustrating,” he said. “[Panther Central] has told us that we are moving. It’s not a question of ‘if.’ It’s a question of ‘when.’”

Estefanos said his room isn’t like the others on campus.

“There’s really no room for a desk and chair,” he said. “Once I have to study, I’ll have to make the commute to the library — and it’s a long commute.”

Estefanos said he was frustrated because he has an extra key to get in his room, while other students can use their cards.

“It’s just another thing to lose,” he said.

A trip up and down Lothrop’s stairs shows that 11 out of 13 common areas are now filled with three to four students per room.

Another freshman, Steve Schmitz, said he learned last night that he had to move today.

“I didn’t even get chance to make my bed yet,” he said.

Originally in Litchfield Tower B, Schmitz was placed in an overflow room in Lothrop because of an unrelated issue. Today, he’s moving into Tower C.

James Earle, a spokesman for the University, said it’s typical for the year to begin with students living in lounges.

“Students have indicated that living on campus is a wonderful experience, and as such, our demand for housing is high,” Earle said in an e-mail. “We are thrilled that so many students wish to live on campus.”

Earle said additional accommodations will open up as students move out, and that students who currently live in the lounges will eventually be able to move into a permanent room. Most of the students living in lounges will move out within the first few weeks of the semester, he said.

He added that the University gives first preference to the students who turned in their housing contracts the earliest.

Earle also said the order for additional desks — a common complaint among residents of the overflow rooms — was delayed, but the desks should arrive next week.

“In the meantime, we attempted to leave the lounge study tables and chairs in place so that students would have a place to work,” he said.

Thomas Sevacko, one of Estefanos’ three roommates, said he he was disappointed that he doesn’t have his own sink, like other Lothrop residents.

Still, he remains optimistic about his living situation.

“It’s not bad,” Sevacko said. “It’s actually pretty pleasant, pretty homey.”

Sevacko said he and his roommates spend most of their time in the room — almost 10 hours per day. He said he and his roommates have already forged a close bond, sharing meals and socializing.

David Haselton, who shares a room with Sevacko and Estefano, said it’s fairly easy for them to adjust to living in a lounge. They never knew what it was like to live in a traditional dorm and “ignorance is bliss,” he said.

Sevacko said he’s even enjoying the experience.

“Really, I love the floor, I love my roommates,” Sevacko said. “We’re all open, we all like being here. This place is all right.”