Housing: Less upperclassman this year call Myles home

While the new Student Village II is the talk of West Campus this semester, smaller, quieter changes are happening on the opposite end of campus.

Approximately 20 percent more sophomores now live in Myles Standish Hall compared with last fall, while the number of juniors and seniors fell, Boston University Housing Director Marc Robillard said. But the influx of sophomores is not directly tied to the opening of StuVi2, Robillard said, insisting it only had a small impact on distribution of student by class year in Myles.’

‘Other residences with a large number of sophomores, the Towers, Shelton [Hall] and 1019 [Commonwealth Ave.], did not have a significant change in their make-up,’ Robillard said.’ ‘

This year, Myles is composed of 21.6 percent freshmen and 60.3 percent sophomores, with juniors and seniors making up the other 18.1 percent, Robillard said. Last year, juniors and seniors made up close to 30 percent of the population in Myles.’ ‘

In order for BU Housing to determine if a direct correlation exists between the opening of StuVi2 and the age demographic in Myles, Robillard said he will require a few years of data.

‘One year change is not too significant,’ he said. ‘But, it is safe to say that more sophomores and juniors decided to stay on campus instead of moving off campus because of the addition of 33 Harry Agganis Way.”

Students have said Myles has long had the reputation of being the quiet dorm on campus.

Part of the reason for Myles’ quiet dorm reputation could be due to its lack of communal interaction in bathrooms, Robillard said. While students in Warren Towers and West Campus must share bathrooms on the floor, students in Myles stay within the confines of their own suites.’ ‘

College of Engineering sophomore Nathan Hixon said he noticed an immediate difference between Myles, where he lives now, and Towers, where he lived last year. Although he and his roommate often leave their door open, Hixon said it is harder to meet people in Myles.

‘ ‘People just walk by and they don’t really talk at all,’ he said.’ ‘

College of Arts and Sciences junior Julie Moreau, who has lived in Myles since her freshman year, said she has found the dorm quiet and reclusive, so younger residents could be a good thing.’ ‘

‘When I was here as a freshman, it was really quiet,’ she said. ‘I think it would be nice if Myles had more of a community atmosphere. It would be easier to adapt to coming to such a huge school.” ‘

Moreau said she noticed many more open doors this year around Myles as students attempt to meet more people in the dorm.’

CAS freshman Samantha Fincke also said Myles is a quiet dorm, but it provides a perfect setting to get her work done without distractions. Fincke said upperclassmen in Myles told her the building used to be even quieter in past years.’

‘People do keep their doors open and I’ve met people in the hallway,’ she said. ‘I think it’s a little more social, but it’s still one of the quieter dorms.”

CAS freshman Josh Nelson said his floor in Myles Annex, full of mostly freshmen boys and sophomore girls, is loud and social.’

‘We’re not really quiet on this floor,’ he said. ‘We’re pretty loud actually. Usually our doors are all open and we’re talking to whoever we want.’