Jene Thomas – General Assignment Reporter
Returning students are in for a surprise as the staff of Southern has made some major changes to campus life over the summer.
With students back on campus, there are already some mixed reviews on these changes.
Upon entry into any residential hall, residents and visitors are greeted with a pleasant change: Wi-Fi. The new feature of residential life has everyone smiling. Now instead of going up to the dorm room to connect their computer to the ethernet cable, everyone can log in a computer, iPad or smartphone as soon as they enter the building.
Whilst moving her son in, a parent was ecstatic that she could use the Wi-Fi on her iPad in the lobby. She said, “This is quite of convenience.” All she needs to log in is her son’s SCSU username and password.
So far there haven’t been any complaints, but residential hall directors warn that the system is new and therefore some complications are bound to happen.
Move-In for new students started Sun. Aug. 24, 2014 and received a high number of compliments.
This year, there was a new system to move in. Students would sign up for a specific move-in time slot. Once they arrived, security, residential staff and a move-in crew greeted them.
The move-in crew, a group of students specially in “move-in crew” apparel, helped the incoming students physically move in, instead of having the burden fall on the students and parents alone.
Residential Advisors (RAs) have said that this was the most efficient and smooth move in transition Southern has had. With all of the good reviews, this new system is sure to stay active.
Some changes, however, haven’t been well received.
As expected, tuition has gone up this year. For the 2013-2014 school year, fall and spring semesters’ tuition and fee (minus cost of residential life) was $8981. This year’s cost totaled $9157 for undergraduates.
The tuition costs and fees can be located on Southern’s website at southernct.edu.
The change in tuition caused some worry with students. One sophomore, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “It was a lot harder to find the funding this year…being cautious of how much I would be able to spend and being [financially] eligible to return for the semester was challenging.”
Fortunately, the financial aid department was there to cover her expenses. Should any student have trouble with their cost of attendance, be sure to contact the financial aid department at (203) 392-5222 or email them at financialaid@southernct.edu.
To anyone with late night food cravings, the campus of Southern Connecticut State University is happy to oblige, just not at Connecticut Hall.
As of this semester, Connecticut Hall will be open at 7 a.m., closing its doors at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 2:30 p.m. on Fridays. On Sundays, the hall is open from 10 a.m. to midnight. It will be closed on Saturdays.
Don’t worry Owls; everyone will still be able to eat. The university has decided to keep dining services in the student center open later. Dining services will close at midnight on weekdays and remain open on Saturdays from 10am to 10pm.
“Keeping Conn open late is expensive,” said Jason Rizk, West Campus Hall Director. “It’s cheaper to keep the student center open.”
With this change, the meal plans differ from last year as well. The Platinum, Gold and Silver meal plans are still in effect. The big change lies within the anywhere meals. Now that the student center is open later and does not accept board meals, the meal plans for students without kitchens allots the students more anywhere meal per week.
Last year, students with the Silver meal plan could have four anywhere meals. Students with Gold could have five and students with Platinum could have six.
Now with the Silver, Gold and Platinum, students may use 11, 13, and 15 anywhere meals, respectively. They still reset at the beginning of each week.
They can be used at any of the retail dining services, except Blue Agave because they are no longer on campus.
Photo Credit: Lafayette College
