Housing at PC has often been a major gripe for students living on campus. Students frequently criticize the buildings for being worn down, too old, or outright in need of renovations. Boone Kirkpatrick, Director of Residence Life at PC, says the school is always looking for ways to improve student living facilities.

“I’d say we are in line with our peer institutions overall, but we continue to listen to students to find ways to improve facilities and increase student satisfaction,” Kirkpatrick explains.

While some students consider housing outdated, Kirkpatrick says, “At most higher education institutions, undergraduate housing is a mix of styles ranging from community or hall bath living arrangements like Smyth, semi-suite style facilities like Georgia, apartments, and townhomes… so I think we are moving in the right direction in terms of offering enough of these style units to meet demand.”

Clinton, Smyth, and Belk are considered by students to be among the most unpleasant Halls to live in with complaints such as mold in dorms, water pressure, and flooding when it rains. “When I lived in Belk, there was mold growing everywhere in my bathroom and on my ceiling,” says upperclassman Lextyn Petz.

Buildings such as Georgia and the upperclassmen apartments are some of the most sought-after spaces. Another upperclassman claims their living experience at PC has been without issue: “I have lived in Georgia, Clinton, and currently live in the townhouses, and I have not once ever had any issues where I’ve stayed on campus. I especially loved living in Georgia Hall.”

Although the older living spaces can be more prone to issues, they can still occur in the new living facilities as well. Like having a house of your own, problems such as leaks, faulty light fixtures, drainage problems, etc. can arise. Problems like these are a hassle, but it is not a cause to remodel the entire building. Boone Kirkpatrick also states, “We continue to listen to students to find ways to improve facilities and increase student satisfaction.” Fixing these concerns at hand builds trust and a relationship with maintenance, Res Life, and the student body.