Summer housing moves south

This summer students are waking up earlier to prepare for their daily hike from South Campus to class.

Summer School housing moved south this year with 600 on-campus students living in Horton and Koury residence halls and Ram and Odum Village during the first session.

Rick Bradley assistant director of assignments and communication for housing said housing expects about 400 students living on campus for the second summer session.

In past years" housing has been available further north. Bradley said several factors led to students living on South Campus this summer. He added that the main factor was availability.

""The students are on South Campus because that's what was available"" he said.

Bradley explained that building availability was affected by events like CTOPS, maintenance and other summer programs.

Every year we deal with renovations and CTOPS" and from year to year it's different" he said.

Residence halls in the upper quad are closed for both summer sessions because of sprinkler installation, Bradley said.

He added that lower quad communities are closed to students so that incoming first-years and parents at CTOPS can stay close to orientation activities, while other North Campus communities are being used for summer programs like Project Uplift and athletic camps.

It's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together"" he said.

So far, Bradley has not received any complaints from students living on South Campus. He said he thinks that students are generally happy with the newer buildings that are being used for summer housing.

Ram Village was opened in the fall of 2006, and Odum Village recently received new dressers and desks, and bathrooms are being renovated as well. Koury and Horton were completed in 2006.

It's been well received"" he said.

Sophomore Dasha Menafee lives in Koury. Although she is surprised that students are living on South Campus this summer, she does not feel inconvenienced by the location.

I like living down there. It's new; it's a nice area to live"" she said.

Brittney Akpobiyeri is a sophomore living in Horton this summer. While she said it would be easier walking to class from North Campus, her biggest concern is the lack of on-campus dining options.

Akpobiyeri said that when Rams Head Dining Hall and Top of Lenoir are closed, living on campus is more challenging.

I can't just walk in and swipe my card"" she said. I've spent a lot of money on food so far. I feel like that's the biggest inconvenience.""

Rams Head is closed during the summer while Top of Lenoir is only open during CTOPS sessions. Lenoir Mainstreet is open most weekdays until 6 p.m." and only some of its usual vendors are in business until the fall.

Dining options on Franklin Street are more than a mile's walk away.


Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.