By: Jaeda Goode
Nearly a year has passed since Southern students officially moved into the Mountain Cottages, a new system of small houses on campus. Students have reflected on their experience living in the cottages so far, with some expressing concerns.
According to a previous Accent article, the Mountain Cottages were built to accommodate the rapidly growing student population. Each structure houses four students and includes a kitchen, living area, two bedrooms and a bathroom.
In the previous article, Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, explained that the university was in need of a quick housing solution.
“These cottages can be built quicker and thus meet our deadline of having extra housing for students at the beginning of next academic year,” Negrón stated.
The main concern voiced by students residing in the cottages is regarding parking.
Bryanna Lopez, a junior nursing major and resident assistant for the cottages, expressed her opinions on the parking arrangements.
“I feel like it’d be nice if they could’ve given us a little bit more parking space,” she said, “but I understand that it’s kind of hard depending on the location because it is uphill.”
Lopez also pointed out that certain parking spots are not paved and can cause damage to students’ cars.
“If we could just have normal pavement [that is] flat, instead of that bump, that would be nice,” she said.
Zen Gonzaga, a junior psychology major and cottage resident, voiced similar sentiments on the parking.
“Parking is a real big issue over there,” he said.
Gonzaga spoke about the difficulties in finding a parking spot during the afternoon and evenings.
“[You] definitely won’t find a spot,” he said.
In a past Accent article, Marty Hamilton, former associate vice president for Financial Administration, explained that there is not enough parking for all residents to park near their unit and encouraged students to walk or bike to class.
“So, the idea is we will either have parking available for them by Campus Safety, or if you go over by WSMC and Brock Hall, we’ve got expanded parking,” Hamilton said.
Though parking was the main complaint, students also described the fresh feeling of living in the new cottages. Ruth Contreras, senior fine arts major, spoke about her experience living in the cottages, comparing it to her previous experiences living in Thatcher Hall and Village Proper.
“When you room with people you like, you don’t mind how small the space is,” she said.
Contreras appreciated the new condition of the cottages in comparison to the Village Proper apartments, claiming that the apartments need extra care due to their longevity on campus.
She also shared her frustration of the cottages’ distance from the rest of campus.
“If I don’t have a ride, it is annoying,” Contreras said, “because we’re so on the corner away from everything.”
Along with the completion of the Mountain Cottages, there has also been the addition of mailboxes for residents, which are not available, yet, for use.
“For the most part, any form of envelope letters would be sent there,” said Lopez, adding that the system would be up and running for students to use in October.
Despite some complaints, students praised the cottages for their sense of community.
“It’s definitely more fun, and it feels much more like the college experience when you’re inviting people over,” Gonzaga said.
Regardless of frustrations, the freedom and community the cottages provide outweigh the downsides for some students, according to Gonzaga.
“Honestly,” said Gonzaga, “it does feel more like a home than a really small cottage.”
The Accent reached out to Student Development for a response to student complaints but received no response.
