HOME AWAY FROM HOME: UNIVERSITY CONSIDERS NEW RESIDENCE HALL ON HENDERSON AVENUE

For the first time in 34 years, Southeast Missouri State University may build a new residence hall for students.

A university committee, following the advice of consultants, recommended Wednesday that the school build a $13 million, 300-bed residence hall on Henderson Avenue, south of the University Center and west of Myers Hall. The area currently is used for parking.

Committee members said a new residence hall is needed because growing enrollment has filled the university's residence halls.

More than 2,300 students lived in university housing last fall, and more than 2,100 are housed on campus this semester. In the past two years, the number of students living on campus has risen by nearly 600.

"The demand for housing is so great, we want to get this open," said Loren Rullman, director of student auxiliary services and the committee's chairman.

To that end, the project is on a fast track with the university already preparing to hire a construction management firm and architect.

The Board of Regents will consider the project and the hiring a construction management firm and architect at its May 4 meeting. Construction could begin this summer.

Bond financing

Bonds would be issued to fund the project. Student housing fees would be used to retire the bonds. The state won't pay for construction of university residence halls.

The Henderson Avenue site was one of two sites considered by the committee. The committee also looked at building the residence hall at the site of the university greenhouse and a campus parking lot on New Madrid Street.

But committee members said the southern location was chosen because it would displace less parking and it would provide a new entrance to the campus.

"It will provide a visual anchor to the campus," said Jim Settle, director of residence life and a member of the housing committee.

The proposed site also would allow the university to make greater use of existing parking on the west side of Henderson. That parking lot is seldom full, school officials and students said.

The new residence hall would be near Myers, Cheney and Dearmont halls, which combined house about 700 students.

Ross McFerron, a freshman from Advance, Mo., lives on the sixth floor of Towers East, one of four high-rise dormitories built on the north end of the campus in 1967.

The Towers dorms are the newest of the university's residence halls. The Greek Housing complex of residence halls was built in 1963. Dearmont dates back to 1960. Myers was built in 1949 and Cheney in 1939.

McFerron likes his living quarters on Towers East with its community showers and bathroom. The old-dorm design doesn't bother him.

"You just get to know people better and you don't have to worry about cleaning a bathroom," he said.

But many students, he concedes, prefer a suite design with private bathrooms.

McFerron said all the residence halls are full, making it hard for students to get private rooms, and a new residence hall on the south end of campus could revitalize that area.

Committee member and student Paul Dobbins wants the university to renovate Parker Hall for use as a student union. But Dobbins said the residence hall project comes first.

"The need for a new residence hall is so great that we have to take care of that first," he said.

Rullman said the new residence hall likely would feature "a neighborhood of suites" with common entrance areas rather than long hallways.

Rullman said the proposed building would be small enough to be inviting to students. "We don't want to build monstrous residential facilities."

RESIDENCE HALL OCCUPANTS

Southeast Missouri State University campus housing population:

*Fall 1994: 1,750

*Fall 1995: 1,911

*Fall 1996: 1,809

*Fall 1997: 1,733

*Fall 1998: 1,736

*Fall 1999: 2,082

*Fall 2000: 2,323

SOURCE: Southeast Missouri State University