After 34 years, Jefferson Hall received almost $93,000 for refurnishing, but the facelift is met with mixed reactions.
Renovations Manager Robin Faires said Ohio University did not start replacing furniture until 1993 and Jefferson, the largest dorm on East Green, was finally approved by putting half of the refurnishing on last years budget and the other half on this years.
Residents of Jeff can relax and study in the new sofas, lounge chairs with desktops and study tables and chairs, which furnish two large study lounges and six alcoves. Other additions include carpeting, drapery and chandeliers.
Although many students and resident assistants were shocked by the $1,000 cost per chair, Faires said they are not the most expensive chairs she has purchased for the university, and that other universities spend up to twice that per chair.
Because of safety codes, the chairs are required to be flame retardant, she said, and they will have to last for 25 years, despite only having a 10-year warranty.
I have bought lesser (priced) pieces
but they just fell apart Faires said. Students don't just sit in these chairs. They sleep in them lean back in them ...
Faires said she has tried to refurnish Jefferson since arriving at OU 11 years ago, but some say a complete makeover was not the number one necessity.
Jefferson needs to be rewired because we have the maximum amount of air conditioners
said resident assistant Ellen Armstrong. Air conditioners are only provided to those who have allergies and other health needs. On the fourth floor two girls were blow drying their hair at the same time and they blew a fuse.
Faires said each year she puts in a proposal for strictly interior-decorating renovations, money for other projects is out of her hands. But, she did say, To rewire a building of Jefferson's size it would be $700
000 to $800
000
so it's not something you do before you renovate.
As part of an overall renovation project for residence halls, in four or five years all of them will be completely renovated, said Ted Fares, director of engineering services and technology support, including the rewiring of Jefferson.
Bob Clark, who has been a custodian in Jeff for the past five years, said The plumbing needs updated and they need paper towel holders in the restrooms. The wiring system is utterly ridiculous
now I'm just a janitor
but it's ridiculous. I feel that waste is tremendous
financial waste. Things could be rebuilt
there are just horror stories.
Clark said at least 30 percent of the furniture in Jeff was decent, even though it was 34 years old.
Other students agree that air conditioning or a laundry room would make their lives more comfortable. And although this year is the first year Jeff is co-ed, resident Joey Gellenbeck and Derek Johnston asked for urinals.
The chairs final delivery date was Sept. 10, but after four days Jefferson resident C.J. Lenhart said he wonders where the rest of the furniture is.
The chairs (that have arrived) are really nice
