Freshman Kelsey Rohwer, a Hatchet columnist, argues that Pelham Hall is a dorm to be admired, but student’s hesitancy about living there is representative of larger problems.
Unfortunately, Pelham’s one vice is a decisive one in the eyes of most GW students. The response commonly given to the question, “Would you live in Pelham?” as I overheard on the Vern express, is, “It’s awesome, but it’s on the Vern.” I am here to tell you that yes, Pelham is awesome, and its location should not by any means deter you from deciding to live there.
As a former resident of the Old Pelham Hall, and former resident of Merriweather Hall, I would have chosen to live on the Vern a 3rd year to live in New Pelham. New Pelham provides too many perks to be disregarded as a housing option for students just because it is on the Vern. The Vern is a great living situation, and all negatives regarding the Vern Express daily are simply outrageous. Yes it sometimes takes longer than most residents would like to get to Foggy Bottom, but how long have you spent in the line at the Gelman Starbucks? The inconveniences of the Vern do not outweigh some of the greatest resources already provides, Eckles and Ames for example, and the resources that New Pelham will bring to the campus. I applaud GW and GW Housing Programs on successfully rebuilding Pelham with only two down years, and bringing much more to the mount Vernon Campus. Additionally, I am thankful that the author has matured since her last post regarding Mount Vernon, and I hope that she continues to represent the Vern for what it is.
Kelsey Rohwer closed her editorial with the statement: “With the continuing judgmental view of the Vern, however, the University will be lucky to get 20 students. ”
However, just yesterday the Hatchet reported that over 100 students listed Pelham hall in their top two choices.
This does not even take into consideration the freshman who have yet to even apply for housing.
No matter what Ms. Rohwer believes, it is clear from early iHousing results that Pelham hall, and the entire Mount Vernon campus is fulfilling the needs and desires of the student body.