By: Madison Wait
Deciding where to live on campus can be confusing, especially when you don’t know the ups and downs of every housing option. In an effort to provide some insight on the issue, GWU-Today is tackling each housing option available to undergrad students on GWU’s campus.
This week, GWU-Today surveyed Stroup, a female dorm on the west edge of campus. The female residents were asked a series of eight questions about their living situation and experience.
When asked which feature appealed to them the most, 7/8 responded that it was the sinks. Unlike any other traditional female dorm on campus, Stroup offers an individual sink that comes standard in every room.
“You can wash your face and do your dishes, all without leaving the comfort of your room,” said senior Stroup resident Bre Iversen. “It’s really convenient.”
While the sink feature is what got most of Stroup’s residents hooked, it was the strong feeling of community that made them want to stay. According to the survey, over half of the participants responded that Stroup’s community was the biggest factor in their decision to stay.
“I love the community feel I get here,” said Anneliese Torres, a junior Stroup resident. “I don’t feel that at other [dorms].”
Stroup’s facilities are also a point of praise for many residents. In the survey, participants were asked to rate their facilities as either Terrible, Not Good, Decent, Good, Excellent, or N/A. The average rating for the bathrooms, overall cleanliness, and lobby was Good, while the Kitchen and Laundry areas were rated as Decent.
Most of the participants elaborated on Stroup’s facilities, voicing their desire for upgraded appliances. Specifically, residents would like to see an improved kitchen area, complete with a new oven.
Additionally, almost all of them wished for an increased number of washers and dryers. Stroup’s laundry room currently offers three washers and three dyers. Yet, many residents feel as though that number is not enough to accommodate the amount of women living there.
According to the survey, another downside of Stroup is the location. Stroup rests on the outer edge of campus, away from most academic and student buildings.
“There’s never any parking and it’s far away from main buildings,” said freshman Stroup resident Mallory Hibbard. Over half of all the participants listed Stroup’s location as a drawback, stating that it was “far from [The] Tucker [Student Center].”
Despite the long walks, Stroup’s current residents are content to stay. The sink, the friendly community and the spacious lobby make Stoup a popular choice for female housing.
“Something about Stroup [makes] it feel more ‘homey’ than others,” said Torres.
If you would like to review your own on campus housing, please submit your opinions to GWU-Today, at [email protected].
