By Duncan Holditch

In past years, upperclassmen and members of various Greek organizations lived in the Leonardtown apartments and Fraternity Row. This year, the typical residents include freshmen.

In a shift surprising to both incoming freshmen and returning members of the University of Maryland community, the Class of 2030 now makes up a large portion of the residents in Leonardtown and Fraternity Row. 

The university assigned some freshmen to Leonardtown last year, but it was uncommon. This year, UMD assigned even more freshmen to these further housing zones because of construction in Ellicott Hall and Hagerstown Hall.

The new freshmen have settled into Leonardtown and Fraternity Row and their first three weeks at UMD have already made for a unique freshman experience. 

Maxwell Dennis, a freshman government and politics major, lives on Fraternity Row. He felt his space was an improvement from what he had seen on North Campus.

“I think that the room itself is way nicer than the living situation you have in Denton or Hagerstown,” Dennis said. “I’ve been into other dorms and it’s like — a traditional double is the size of my single.”

Maya Gerard, a freshman biochemistry major living in the Leonardtown apartments, agreed.

“I think we’re luckier because we live with and like upperclassmen in the sense that we have a kitchen, a bathroom, a main area,” Gerard said. “I feel no shortage of space to keep my stuff anywhere.”

However, both said their location on campus affects their social life. 

“It’s a strange situation to be in,” Dennis said. “It’s definitely isolating having to take a bus or walk half an hour to go and do something with the rest of the university … you’re literally like [on] the other side of the highway.” 

Similarly, Gerard finds Leonardtown to be different from her expectations.

“The way you imagine a typical freshman experience is opening up all your doors and seeing everyone on your floor,” Gerard said. “We come here and it’s empty.”

The resident assistants have planned several events to bridge this gap, but only so much can be done with a community as spread out as Leonardtown. 

“It’s not ideal to have the freshmen here,” said Valerie Mooney, a junior biology major and an RA in House 5 on Fraternity Row. “It’s definitely more difficult for freshmen because it’s very isolating … as a freshman you’re just feeling more alone.”

It is unclear whether the Leonardtown apartments and Fraternity Row will remain a hotspot for freshmen once the construction finishes in North Campus. Still, the life these freshmen have carved out for themselves so far proves to be yet another unique subculture of UMD.

Featured Image: A student stands outside House 5 on Fraternity Row. Photo by Duncan Holditch.