HRS freshman project set to change high rises

Those upperclassmen wanting to live in the low-floors of High Rise East should start making new plans. Starting this fall, the first eight floors of HRE will house over 250 incoming freshmen, becoming the permanent place for the First-year Project, now in High Rise South, according to Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone. The program, which has been in place for over five years, currently houses 200 freshmen on six floors of HRS. The project was cut from eight floors this spring to allow more upperclassmen in the high-rises. Simeone said the move was made because she thought the presence of the four living-learning programs now housed in the upper floors of HRE would provide a "rich environment" for the freshmen. The living-learning programs, which give students with common interests an opportunity to live together, sponsor numerous activities. By living in the same building, freshmen would have greater access to these activities, she said. High Rise East currently houses East Asia House, Arts House, Women's Issues floors and the Latin American Program. Simeone added that the move would also benefit members of the living-learning houses since they would have the opportunity to interact with freshmen and participate in their activities. "It seemed like it made sense programatically to have them in the same building," she said. Ira Gluck, a College senior and resident advisor for freshmen in HRS, said last night that the location of the program is the only aspect of the program which will be changed. "[The move] really shouldn't affect the way we do things at all," he said. Another reason for moving the First-year Project, according to Simeone, was to convert HRS into a residence building mostly made up of upperclassmen. She said there has been "a lot of student interest in living in High Rise North" since it houses only upperclassmen. "Students seem to enjoy living in High Rise North because it houses upperclass residents," she said. "We want to create the same atmosphere in High Rise South."

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