2008 Woodie Awards
Five years out, some CUE goals remain unmet
Issue date: 4/24/08
"This issue is certainly one that I hear from parents about, and I remain hopeful that we can develop a plan to provide this opportunity for those who want it. I think it would make a difference in the sense of community for undergraduates," Brody wrote.
Though four-year guaranteed housing may not be in the immediate future, the University has achieved several key objectives, including providing additional sophomore housing through the construction of Charles Commons, completed in 2006. According to CUE chairwoman Dean of Underguate Education and Vice Provost Paula Burger, Charles Commons was built with the dual purpose of providing additional housing for upperclassmen and encouraging social interaction and group study, two important recommendations of the CUE report.
"I think the CUE report galvanized the commitment to [build Charles Commons]," Burger said. "We said it would address the need to strengthen the community. CUE created interest and support."
Professor Stephen David, another committee member, agreed.
"My own view is that the best thing to come out of CUE was the recognition that we needed more student housing, which eventually led to the creation of Charles Commons. Having students living together has helped create a much stronger sense of community, something long overdue at Hopkins," he wrote in an e-mail.
Coupled with the commission's recommendation to build up residence halls was its recommendation to improve student social life in the Charles Village area as well as social programming in on-campus residence halls.
"The idea was to create a college town feel to [Charles Village]," Leslie said, "though it hasn't succeeded well."
Leslie points to the empty space that used to house Xando's and TGI-Friday's as examples of the failed attempts to create a more student-friendly college scene.
With the building of Charles Commons, "we've jumped across Charles Street; in that respect we're integrated into Charles Village much more," he said. "However, we're still not there yet. We're still pretty isolated from the surrounding area."
Though four-year guaranteed housing may not be in the immediate future, the University has achieved several key objectives, including providing additional sophomore housing through the construction of Charles Commons, completed in 2006. According to CUE chairwoman Dean of Underguate Education and Vice Provost Paula Burger, Charles Commons was built with the dual purpose of providing additional housing for upperclassmen and encouraging social interaction and group study, two important recommendations of the CUE report.
"I think the CUE report galvanized the commitment to [build Charles Commons]," Burger said. "We said it would address the need to strengthen the community. CUE created interest and support."
Professor Stephen David, another committee member, agreed.
"My own view is that the best thing to come out of CUE was the recognition that we needed more student housing, which eventually led to the creation of Charles Commons. Having students living together has helped create a much stronger sense of community, something long overdue at Hopkins," he wrote in an e-mail.
Coupled with the commission's recommendation to build up residence halls was its recommendation to improve student social life in the Charles Village area as well as social programming in on-campus residence halls.
"The idea was to create a college town feel to [Charles Village]," Leslie said, "though it hasn't succeeded well."
Leslie points to the empty space that used to house Xando's and TGI-Friday's as examples of the failed attempts to create a more student-friendly college scene.
With the building of Charles Commons, "we've jumped across Charles Street; in that respect we're integrated into Charles Village much more," he said. "However, we're still not there yet. We're still pretty isolated from the surrounding area."
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