Make yourself at home: frosh housing

McClellan, Bingham, Welch...here's what you need to know about freshman dorms.

BY JOSIE MACMURDO

I get to live in a castle? Cool!" Images of chivalrous princes and fair maidens filled my mind when I first took in the magnificence of Bingham Hall's rotunda my freshman year. I was not meant for the medieval times however; I was promptly informed that my residence, the Georgian Timothy Dwight, was a few blocks over. But whether you live in a castle, a Georgian mansion or a swanky hotel called Swing Space, Yale frosh all do pretty well in the housing department. Here's the rundown on where you will be living, beginning with housing on Old Campus.

Vanderbilt Hall, the large U-shaped dorm on the Chapel Street side of Old Campus, will house Branford and Berkeley freshmen. Most Vanderbilt suites are three-room quads that consist of two bedrooms and a common room. Bathrooms are usually communal, shared with the other residents of each single-sex floor. Though the bedrooms are narrow and have bunked beds, the large common rooms, complete with (non-working) fireplaces and window seats, make up for it. The window seats, which can turn into three-seat sofas with a few pillows, overlook the Vanderbilt courtyard, a popular place to socialize.

Right next to Vanderbilt is Bingham Hall. Located on the corner of College and Chapel Streets, Bingham will house Calhoun and Trumbull freshmen. Though Bingham is one of the oldest buildings on Old Campus, recent renovations, including hardwood floors, improved bathrooms and lighting, and an elevator for the tower's nine floors, have transformed the once-cramped quarters into spacious suites.

Bingham rooms are either three-room quads or sextets with a combination of singles and doubles. Most suites boast large common rooms and bedrooms, and the basement contains both Old Campus's best laundry facility and the Freshman Lounge. An achievement of the 1997-'98 Freshman Class Council, the lounge, which is located down the hall from the laundry room, provides freshmen with a place to socialize, play games, and watch TV. Due to its great acoustics, the rotunda in Entryway C becomes a very popular practice space for singing Yalies.

Next over is Welch Hall, which will house Davenport freshmen. The windows and exterior of Welch were recently renovated, improving insulation and the building's facade. Rooms in Welch hold up to six people, with spacious bedrooms, large common rooms, and private bathrooms (be warned though; a private bathroom means that you clean it yourself).

Very few Welch bedrooms have bunkbeds, and many rooms have built-in-shelves or overhead storage bins. Fire doors allow access to adjacent entryways, and the suites on the higher floors span two levels, giving them a somewhat posh, penthouse feel.

Lawrance Hall will house frosh from Ezra Stiles. Suites in Lawrance hold up to six frosh and boast large common rooms, many singles, and spacious doubles that permit debunked beds. Each suite has three or four singles and one or two doubles, as well as a private bathroom within the suite. Fire doors permit access to adjacent rooms and the basement laundry in Farnam.

Farnam Hall will house the Jonathan Edwards freshmen. Farnam is similar to Lawrance, with big common rooms and private bathrooms. The laundry room located in the basement of Farnam provides easy access for JE frosh. The windows look out onto Old Campus or onto the New Haven Green.

Next to Farnam, Durfee Hall will house freshmen from Morse College. Durfee, which has housed annexed upperclassmen for the past two years, is coveted for its location near the center of campus. Newly renovated, the building is also home to Durfee's Sweet Shoppe, the late night food haven frequented by all varieties of Yale students.

Finally, Lanman-Wright Hall will house Saybrook and Pierson frosh. Lanman-Wright is comprised of "cozy" (i.e. small) two-bedroom quads, and its courtyard is a favorite hangout area, with large trees and comfortable benches. Because Lanman-Wright is directly above the post office, this area of Old Campus is always busy, with notice boards covered in advertisements for shows, students rushing to check their post-office boxes between classes, and people relaxing in the courtyard.

What if your room assignment doesn't say Old Campus? Have no fear! Incoming Timothy Dwight and Silliman students are fortunate enough to live in their residential colleges as freshmen, facilitating friendships with upperclassmen as well as a strong sense of college pride. Silliman and TD freshmen counselors have fewer counselees—and thus can provide increased personal attention—and both colleges organize special events.

Freshmen in Silliman live in five entryways. Entryways E and F have window seats, fireplaces, and access to the laundry rooms in the basement of E. Rooms in J, K, and L are a bit smaller but have built-in-shelves. These entryways are connected to the basement, which contains a TV room and computer lab.

Timothy Dwight's freshmen will live in Swing Space, the Tower Parkway dorm reserved for colleges undergoing renovation. The frosh will be centered on each of Swing Space's four floors. All of the rooms are two-bedroom quads with a common room, an in-suite bathroom, and a kitchenette. Swing Space is air-conditioned and directly adjacent to the gym. It also has the benefits of the other residential college buildings, including a game room, an aerobics room, laundry facilities, vending machines, and a comfortable common area with a piano.

Freshmen should remember to take advantage of the residential colleges' cozy libraries, intimate dining halls, and performance spaces. Also remember that if you need a little space away from your roommate or simply a change in scenery, the courtyard is right outside, and a new dining hall just around the corner. 

Photo by Julia Tiernan

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