Dobson reopens doors

Dobber the Toaster is once again a contender for the College Cup.

After major renovations, Dobson hall reopened this year with a new staff and a majority of new students.

Dobson Community Coordinator senior Claire Hof said she is excited for a fresh start.

"Nobody has ever worked there, including myself," Hof said. "So it'll be a new experience for all of us. We're just going to tackle things as they come because there is a lot that we don't know."

The new staff includes Andy Albrecht, who will be the hall director for Dobson, Fair Apartments and Randolph Apartments. Along with the new staff, new amenities in Dobson include air conditioning, an elevator, new kitchen amenities, flat screens and a stone fire place.

"It's gorgeous," Hof said. "They did a really good job with renovations. I think one thing that shows is that the housekeepers love it, and the housekeepers know every building so well. They are just in love with the Dobson renovations so it's cool to hear them so excited about it."

Some of the big changes include a C-store in Dobson that will replace the store in Fair Apartments and an entryway at the back of the building so students will not have to walk around the building to enter.

Dobson has the same layout as it had before the renovation and houses 380 students with community-style bathrooms. Hof said she has never experienced community-style bathrooms but thinks it will be a good experience.

"I can definitely see the effects of community-style bathrooms on buildings," Hof said. "So I'm excited about that and my student advisers are also excited to be able to have that type of community. There is a more of a close-knit family feeling because they all do share one bathroom so they all see each other all the time."

Junior Katherine Murphy lived in Dobson as a freshman and is returning as a student adviser this year. She said she has always enjoyed the community-style living that Dobson offers.

"The community in Dobson is just fantastic," Murphy said. "When you have to brush your teeth next to someone, you're going to get to know them pretty well."

This year, 340 of Dobson's residents are freshmen. Murphy said the first, second and fourth floors of the building will be completely freshmen.

"I think community living is great for freshmen," she said. "You get the true college experience with knowing the people you live next to and knowing the people in your hall and making friendships that can last throughout college."

Murphy said she thinks the renovations will improve perceptions of Dobson.

"It'll just be a more comfortable living environment," Murphy said. "It wasn't that it was uncomfortable before.

"Dobson kind of had a bad reputation and I think now with all the changes once people see it, it's going to be a really nice place to live, and change the view of many students on campus."

Freshman Brad Young moved into Dobson two weeks before school to train for football.

"We got placed in here but when I came on a [campus] visit we looked through Ryle and Missouri Hall too," Young said. "But over the other ones, I really like these, so I would prefer to be here for sure."

He said he thinks that the rooms aren't as big, but Dobson does have perks like air conditioning and bigger lobbies, better kitchens and computers in the lounges.

"I like how we have all [football] guys here on the floor, so we are really close and get to hang out," Young said.