Every summer, the University of New Haven hosts overnight orientations for incoming freshmen, called SOAR. This is a requirement for all incoming freshmen at the university. As the university describes it, “SOAR is designed to provide you with a seamless transition to the
University community while connecting you with your fellow classmates and sharing valuable information.”

The experience provides a preview of what life on campus will be like. Each student is paired with a roommate for the night, and everyone has the opportunity to socialize with other incoming students. However, the one thing that SOAR does not address is the vagaries of dorm life. Much depends on where a student is assigned.

The university has dormitories that each offer a different living experience. One of these is Westside Hall, located near Zolad Stadium. Westside provides standard college dorm amenities: laundry rooms, lounges for hanging out with fellow floormates, and classic twin XL beds.
“Westside Hall feels like a hotel more than a college dorm,” said forensics science student Roman Piragas. “Everything feels newer and updated, and only having to share a bathroom with one other person made me feel way more comfortable. [Westside] definitely made my first year here better.”

On the other hand, moving toward the center of campus, you’ll find Bixler Hall, which the school calls a “traditional” residence hall.

Bixler offers the traditional college experience, which isn’t always positive.

“Living in Bixler feels like the college experience,” said computer science major Gideon Gyamfi.

“The walls are thin so you can hear people talking from a few doors down. I find it annoying that every time I have to use the bathroom I have to walk down the hall and use the keycard. The laundry is always taken up because people never take out their laundry when it’s done. However, Bixler is perfectly located: the food trucks are behind us, both dining halls are a quick walk, everything is just perfectly located.”

Bixler lacks some of the luxuries found in Westside, with communal bathrooms and absence of air conditioning being its most notable drawbacks. Located directly across the quad is Gerber Hall, which mirrors the layout of Bixler Hall, except for the bathroom accommodations. Students who reside in Gerber have their own bathrooms, similar to Westside.

An upside to living in Bixler and Gerber Halls is not having to worry about long walks. Getting to any dining hall or academic building is usually a five-minute walk.

Moving to the opposite side of campus is Bethel Hall. In recent years, Bethel has earned a reputation for its lack of space provided to students. Students call it, “The Trenches,” and they say Bethel offers a different experience from both Bixler and Westside.

“Living in Bethel has been really easy for me,” said Sweeden Patterson, a first-year journalism student. “I live in a suite with twelve girls in total—six rooms, two people each. Some may argue that we’re tucked away from most of the campus, but honestly, I don’t feel that way. It’s the closest to the dining hall, and the majority of my classrooms are, at most, a five-minute walk.”

To round out the options for first-year students, there is Bergami Hall, home to WOW Café, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Dunkin’ Donuts.

“I personally really like it,” said Josie Thompson, freshman nutrition science student. “We have a very spacious bathroom and it is easier to share with 6 people than I thought it would be. It’s nice to be above Dunkin’, WOW, and Moe’s.

In terms of downsides, Thompson said, “The elevators are so slow. Laundry is bad because nothing is ever open.” She also mentioned how she can sometimes smell odors from the restaurants coming through the vents.