This semester, four new residence halls opened up. Two new Greek residence halls, housing sororities Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) and Kappa Delta, have allowed for the former AOII house to house Alpha Tau Omega. Additionally, two more freshman residence halls have opened next to the University Center. The building is split into two halls: Gaston for females, and Mann for males.
Walker Kesler, a sophomore Resident Assistant in Mann, has lived in the new hall for nearly two weeks.
“It’s very nice. You know it’s, you know, well furnished, I think that’s definitely the big difference,” Kesler said.
ResLife has divided Central Campus into two sections — north and south. Smith and Vail make up Central Campus north. Gaston, Mann and Pittman are Central Campus South.
“It is still a residence hall, but I definitely think they wanted to make it more than a residence hall, (…) they clearly wanted it to be also kind of a social area,” Kesler said.
To keep the male and female sides separate from each other, the different sides have key card locks accessible by each student’s student ID.
Macy Wanner, a freshman business major, has lived in Gaston since August 21.
“It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve already met so many people mainly just like on elevator rides like all the girls in there we all talk,” she said. “I really like the common areas. My friends and I will go and hang out in there and then some of our guy friends would come in and talk with us as well.”
Gaston and Mann share a lobby and common spaces, a kitchen and laundry room. These shared spaces share a pool table and ping pong table.
“I really like how the common areas are co-ed so we can all hang out and not have to go through the process of signing in if we wanted to hang out with each other,” Wanner said. “The only thing I don’t like is the co-ed laundry room. I think it makes it a bit harder because personally I don’t want guys seeing all like my undergarments or any of my clothes.
Wanner appreciates the centrality and scenic views from Gaston, especially from the fifth-floor balcony.
With the new residence hall, all freshmen live on central campus, in close proximity to the University Center, academic buildings, and Recreational Complex.
“I think it’s going to be great for freshman, you know, just I think getting places and it’s just going to be a lot easier for them getting to point A to point B,” Kesler said.
Kesler spoke to Samford’s emphasis on residential life.
He said, “I think having as many students as you can on a residential campus is important to the culture, to the environment of the campus.”
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