Atwater

Author: Andrea M. LaRocca

As the most recently completed commons, Atwater is where it is all at this year for room draw. Those who live there now plan to stay for the new senior suites and the new dining hall, and those who do not live there are daydreaming about the same things. Even though the remote location of Atwater - on what Alex Citrin '07 called "the dark side of campus" - is a downside for many, the new additions to the commons have moved a lot of activity and even more of the room draw competition to the far side of campus.

Allen Hall, which was newly renovated this past summer, gets high marks as the first-year dorm with the most spacious rooms on campus. Though some complained about the notorious "Dungeon" and particularly its bathroom, most said that Allen was great first-year housing. As was the case for most first-year dorms, Allen residents noted that the people, including the JCs and CRAs, were the best part of their living experience. "You get to know everyone in the dorm," said Sarah Bray '08.

Nearly all the sophomores and juniors in Atwater, save those lucky juniors who might catch a spare suite in the new Hall A or B, live in Coffrin. With its color-coded hallways and barn façade, Coffrin is a little hokey, but the residents say that the mostly single rooms set-up is worth it - it means that you can live next to your first-year roommate, but thankfully not with him (again). The residents of the top floor of Coffrin rank it highly because, according to Amanda Tavel '07, they have "big beautiful windows with great views." Everyone noted that the heat in Coffrin is terrible because it often does not work and then randomly turns on in the middle of the night. But whenever Coffrin residents get down, they just look out their windows to the new suites and see the happy room draw days to come.

If you would prefer to live in a castle rather than a barn, Atwater has that too - it is called Le Château. The French-styled residence hall was one of the first dorms on campus and has amenities that you won't find in any other dorm on campus - hard-wood floors, French windows and doors that open outwards (yes, windows that open!), walk-in closets and sometimes small balconies. The walls are a little thin and several of the rooms are shaped a little oddly - like an L, for example - but the small dorm has many singles and a high desirability rate. Why? Because one of the best things about the dorm is "just saying that you live in Château," said Carsten Belanich '08.5.

And of course, there are the new Atwater suites - some of the most coveted senior housing on campus. The extra-high ceilings, huge common rooms, fully-functional kitchens and single bedrooms get high marks all around, as does the ability to live close to so many senior friends. Some people complained about the dorms' still slightly unfinished state, and many noted the very loud vent system, but overall students love the new suites.