I attend Widener University and this past year I happened to live in the smallest building on campus, Hanna Hall. After surviving all of my freshmen year in this building, I have some things I want to tell people who are going to be moving in.
The rooms are small so you have to make the best of the small space.
1. No AC
Since its the oldest building there isn't AC. Yes, it is awful at times. Keeping the windows open and having fans doesn't always help, but sometimes you luck out and it does. If you have a medical condition you can have an AC unit and let me tell you, those rooms are definitely where you want to escape to. I had an AC unit at the beginning of the year in my first room. It made all the difference, however it was taken away because neither my roommate or I had a medical condition that required us to have one. It was a very sad day, so I've seen both worlds.
2. Roaches
Yes, they're gross. No one likes seeing these guys around, ever, and honestly they are huge. They aren't always there but every once in a while you catch one or two scurrying across the floor. Keep a bottle of Raid around just in case because if you call someone on campus about them, all you will get is a few traps to put in your room or outside of your room. They don't help at all. So if you don't want to see these creepy guys, keep your room clean and cover any food that is around. And do not squish them if you find them!
3. Showers
On every floor, there are only two showers in each bathroom. Before you walk in and blast your music and start singing at the top of your lungs, if you do that, open one if not both of the windows there. If you don't and you or the person next to you likes to take hot showers, then the alarm will go off and you will have to go outside in your towel. Which I'm pretty sure is every college kid's worst nightmare. Everyone in my hall learned this the hard way because the alarm went off multiple times in one night. So learn from our mistakes.
4. Laundry
If you live on the third floor like my friends and I did, doing laundry isn't going to be your favorite day. You have to walk up and down those stairs so many time just to clean your clothes. Keep a schedule and find a time when most of the washers and dryers are open because unless you're the type of person that will take someone else's clothes out of the dryer and put them on top and use it, you'll be waiting for a while. Trust me I know, I waited for an hour once because someone didn't remember that their stuff was done. To keep your clothes from being taken out, put a timer on your phone when you do wash.
5. The Cleaning Lady
The cleaning lady comes around the same time every day during the week. You have to work around her. You will learn very fast that she likes to talk on the phone or listen to music while she works. If you need a five minute shower, get there before she does because even if she hasn't made it to clean the showers yet, she will tell you to wait. So if you are going to wait, don't have a class in the next 30 minutes.
6. Fire Alarms
Wow, these alarms are so loud. Some people can actually sleep through them shocking actually. They don't go off too often, but when they do they are so annoying. The real struggle is the bathroom line when you get back inside. Whenever someone makes popcorn you will get ready for the alarm to go off because apparently people don't know how to make popcorn and not let it burst into flames.
I have made so many great friends in Hanna Hall and I'm sure that you all will too. You will bond with the people around you. It's a great experience, even if there are a few down sides. Make the best of every situation. Hanna isn't the best hall on campus, but the memories and friends you will make are worth it!
