Freshman residents scatter due to Harrison renovations

By Shad Hashmi
News Staff

Harrison Dormitory, which is a part of Freshman Experience on East campus, will be closed for renovations during Spring and Summer Quarters. The renovations include rewiring the dorms, reinstalling water lines, and enhancing the structure of the eighty-year-old building.

This project will be conducted in the middle of the academic year because, according to Housing officials, the dormitory must be ready for Fall Quarter, when demand for housing is at its peak.

Harrison currently houses 152 residents and the major problem is to find new spots for them on the Georgia Tech campus.

The Associate Director for Residence Life, Dan Morrison, is in charge of finding spaces for the displaced residents.

"The renovation of Harrison has been planned in advance and all the current residents were told about the closure," he said.

He also emphasized that the housing facilities on campus would be able to absorb all of the displaced residents of Harrison.

Housing officials are currently trying to find spots for the displaced residents in the Freshman Experience program. There are about thirty-two spaces currently open for the Harrison residents in other Freshman Experience dorms. More spaces could become available as people drop out of the Freshman Experience or move into sorority houses.

Morrison stated that the Peer Advisors and Peer Leaders currently assigned to Harrison will not lose their jobs. They will be assigned new jobs within the Department of Housing, or will fill positions left as some Peer Advisors and Peer Leaders leave.

The Department of Housing will also help Harrison residents move. Packaging crates will be provided to all the residents. "Curb to curb" moving will be provided. Housing will move the belongings of the residents from the curb of Harrison to the curb of their new dorm.

"The Department of Housing staff will do its utmost to accommodate any roommate requests," stated Morrison.

Harrison residents will be given Priority Housing Status for Fall Quarter.

Most of the current residents of Harrison seem to agree that the dorm is need of repair and renovation, but their reactions to the move are mixed.

Karen Hoyale, President of the Freshman Council of Harrison and Towers, has taken the news in stride.

A Staff member, who wishes to remain anonymous, says, "my only regret is that the rapport that I have formed with my residents cannot be maintained and built upon."

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