HALL RENOVATIONS WELCOME STUDENTS BACK TO SOUTHEAST

Dorm life has perhaps never equated to living in the lap of luxury, but for the students living in Towers West at Southeast Missouri State University, a few more amenities can make a big difference.

The newly-renovated residence hall costs residents a little more, about $600 more per year on average, but most students feel the rooms are worth the average price tag of $2,900.

"If I had to live in some place like Dearmont, another hall, I wouldn't be here," said Tara McCormack, a freshman from Murphysboro, Ill.

McCormack lives in a suite with two other women. They share two walk-in closets, a bathroom and have a separate area devoted to study and word processing.

The three-person, suite-style room is one of four living arrangements offered in Towers West. Students also can live in a suite with a private bathroom, a suite with one roommate and a private bath, or choose to live with one roommate and share a bathroom with two other students living in an adjoining room.

"The thing that really sold me was `no bathroom at the end of the hall' thing," said Jen Braswell, a freshman from Sunset Hills, who lives with one roommate and shares a bathroom with another couple.

Braswell said the convenience of sharing a bathroom with three other women and not having to walk down a hall to shower was a big selling point in her decision to attend Southeast. She said some other amenities to the newly-renovated hall, unknown to her before moving day, were added bonuses. There are separate phone numbers and jacks for her and her roommate, she said.

"The closet in here is bigger than the one in my room at home," Braswell said.

Also, students have additional jacks provided for modem hook-ups, which allows their computers to be on-line with the university's e-mail system and the library.

Students also have new lounges on each floor with new televisions and furniture. Also available on each floor is a kitchenette, a tub room, and a computer room with two computers that are on-line with the campus mainframe computer.

Students don't have to venture to the basement in Towers West to do laundry either. Two washers and two dryers have been installed on each floor.

Towers West, at nearly 100 percent capacity, also offers co-ed floors, a concept difficult for other residence halls since floors typically share one bathroom facility. Both Braswell and McCormack called their co-ed floors, "definite positives."

Towers West is not quite half of an $11 million renovation project on campus. This year, Towers North is closed for similar renovations. Also, Southeast is using some of the budgeted money to replace an aging water chiller that serves the Towers complex.

"I think we got a lot for the money," said SueAnn Strom, vice president for Student Affairs, of the Towers West renovation.

All of the new furniture in the 11-floor residence hall is wood. The elevators have been refurbished with computer systems and new mechanical operating equipment. New ground-level meeting rooms and hall council rooms also are available in Towers West.