By Michael Murphy

Although freshmen at the University of Maryland have little say in where they reside during their first year, there is a hefty debate over which residence halls maintain a top-tier ranking. 

With recently constructed dorms like Pyon-Chen and Johnson-Whittle, students are getting a luxurious living experience. However, others who reside in older dorms, such as Ellicott and Hagerstown, face challenges including lack of air conditioning and overall space. 

Even with the worsening conditions of some dorms on campus, students are privy to the community experiences they have had in their residential spaces. 

Zach Ostrow, a freshman computer science major, and Hunter Walls, a freshman civil engineering major, both shared similar experiences in Pyon-Chen. They agreed that it is one of the best dorms on campus, while emphasizing that they would have no interest in switching into another dorm. 

But, both said they find the community environment to be weaker than other dorms. 

For Walls, Pyon-Chen is missing a critical social aspect. “I have made a few friends on my floor but most of my friends live in other dorms,” he said. 

Ostrow explained that many people in Pyon-Chen use the lounges frequently, and mostly for studying.  

In comparison, Adam Greenberg, a freshman mechanical engineering major, and Jesse Ehrenreich, a freshman aerospace engineering major gave insight into their experiences in Hagerstown Hall. Although they both agreed that the newer dorms are probably nicer than Hagerstown, they spoke positively about their dorm. 

“I have enjoyed my dorm even though it was rough during the hot weeks. There isn’t another dorm I would prefer to live in,” Greenberg said.  

Both alluded to the tight-knit community that Hagerstown has brought them. 

“Our dorm is incredibly social, and I’ve made tons of close friends from Hagerstown,” Ehrenreich said.

They also highlighted the lounges as very active social spaces. People always hang in the lounges at all hours of the day, Greenberg said. 

Although the lack of air conditioning is a deterrent for many people, the residents said that it brought students together, creating a strong sense of community.

Akiva Scher, a freshman criminology major, added another perspective as a resident of Queen Anne’s Hall. Rarely mentioned as one of the best or worst dorms on campus, Scher said that he is very happy where he is.

“There isn’t another dorm I would want to move into,” Scher said. 

Although certain dorms are coveted more than others, there is a shared sense of satisfaction with the dorm experience for most students at UMD. With certain flaws that are more noticeable than others, the most important aspect is a sense of community in each dorm. 

While some students may prefer air conditioning to an active lounge on their floor, there are certainly promising factors of every dorm at the University of Maryland.

Featured Image: The front of Pyon-Chen Hall, one of the recently-constructed dorms on campus. Photo by Michael Murphy.