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UMW students temporarily housed in apartment complex on Cowan Boulevard Date published: 10/4/2009
BY JEFF BRANSCOME University of Mary Washington sophomore Patrick Mahoney is glad he's on the waiting list for on-campus housing. That's because he's living in a two-bedroom apartment at the Residences at Belmont in Fredericksburg for the same price as a dorm. Each apartment came furnished with desks, dressers, beds, chairs and a couch. "I love it out here," Mahoney said. "We have more freedom. We can do what we want." He's one of 60 students temporarily assigned to the apartment complex on Cowan Boulevard. Most share a bedroom with a roommate. Twelve sophomores who started the semester at Belmont--which UMW calls "West Village"--are now in dorms, said Chris Porter, UMW's director of residence life. She said she expects the rest of them to move back to campus at the beginning of next semester. Dorm space typically opens up in January because students transfer out, study abroad or depart for other reasons. Students are on the waiting list this year because UMW President Judy Hample ended the practice of allowing three freshmen to a room. About half of the sophomores at Belmont have cars, Porter said. For those who don't, UMW provides shuttle service to and from the complex every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on weekdays. Mahoney doesn't have a car, but said he bikes to campus in about seven minutes. Belmont is a little more than a mile away from the center of campus. At night--returning from activities such as club basketball practices--Mahoney often rides home with a friend. During the week, he said, he spends most of his time on campus, whether it be in the library, gym or class. On weekends, Mahoney invites friends to watch football on his flat-screen television. "Now that I'm out here, I don't want to go back to campus," he said. Porter said she hasn't received complaints from residents, though a UMW professor who lives at Belmont has said he can hear the students at times. "For the most part, I think they're very good neighbors," Porter said. Belmont, like the dorms, has resident assistants who monitor students. On a recent afternoon, UMW sophomore Doug Schultz received a haircut from a friend on his apartment's outdoor patio. "There's so much more space in here," he said. "It's great." But Schultz and his roommates haven't taken advantage of the kitchen. Their only cooking utensil is a pan someone found in a Dumpster. Fortunately, Mahoney's apartment is nearby and often features eggs, hot dogs and other simple fare. Mahoney said the experience has persuaded him to live off campus his junior year. "The positives are definitely outweighing the negatives," he said. Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
ok some one give that kid a skillet, thats not been in a dumpster lol Mom,Dad come on take him to walmart or give him one of yours .. hey i got plenty of old ones to donate lol
When I was in college "up north" a number of years ago, they put the displaced folks in the study lounges in the dorms. This is a far cry from that. Wish we had that luxury when I was in college. Wonder how much UMW has to subsidize the rent and charge extra tuition to the entire student body to make up for it?
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