The Department of Housing and Residence Life’s greatest challenge this year has been to find spaces for all students, including 2,375 freshmen.
   In total, 212 students were told they could not be housed for this year, which “was very difficult to do,” said Director of Housing and Residence Life Rick Geis.
   Forty students are currently considered overflow, according to Geis. They are being housed in the Belk and Frank Residence Hall lobbies, as well as Bowie Hall’s first floor seminar room. Depending on the number of students who do not show up or leave school, the overflow students could be housed during the next two weeks, or it may take as long as until fall break, according to Geis.
   The delay in the opening of the Living and Learning Center caused the 281 students scheduled to live there to move to Doughton Hall, which had been originally scheduled to close for renovations, reported Geis. The current plan is for the Living and Learning Center to be completed by late September or early October.
   Many changes occurred in the Department of Housing and Residence Life over the summer.
   Several residence halls received brand new furniture for the lobbies. This furniture replaces the previous couches and tables, which were, in some cases, over 20 years old, according to Geis.
   Noah Hauber and Jay Brown, freshmen roommates in Gardner Residence Hall, agreed they liked the bigger couches and that it would be a nice place to lounge.
   Landscaping was also given a face-lift outside of all the residence halls.
   Eggers and Bowie Halls received new elevators, with an estimated cost of $1.2 million, said Geis.
   “These are real close in speed to those at Duke Hospital,” said Jonathan Klinger, a freshman living in Bowie Hall.
   Geis stated the steps in front of Eggers and Cone Halls were “way too steep,” so those were replaced as well.
   The existing carpet in Gardner and Coltrane Halls was torn up and replaced by new tile. Area rugs will be added to the lobbies as soon as they are delivered. Plans are in place for the same renovations to be completed at each residence hall, according to Geis.
   Construction on a new metal roof for Appalachian Heights will begin within three weeks.
   Geis stated the students living in Appalachian Heights will be moved to the back of building during this renovation.