Some Thomas Hall residents feel that the Bond Revenue Committee’s decision to put the new convenience center into their hall was a practical one. However, some residents of Stevenson Hall, the other possible location for the convenience center that was not chosen, are not too pleased with the decision.

The committee, comprised of three Student Senate members and three members of the Residence Hall Association, decided Tuesday to locate a new convenience center in Thomas Hall’s Dining Service area.

Mark Hudson, director of Housing and Dinning, said the university plans to begin construction on the convenience center in the summer, so it will open next fall.

The Thomas Hall convenience center will be the second such location on campus. Like the first convenience center located in Carman Hall, the Thomas Hall location will offer residents a chance to purchase snacks, beverages and other items using cash or Dining Dollars.

Matthew Boyer, Thomas Hall’s resident director, said that he does not have a personal opinion about the choice. Boyer also said that he has overheard Thomas Hall residents express positive feelings towards the decision.

“(The decision) is fine with me,” Boyer said. “I do think that all students will benefit from the new convenience center.”

The decision has affected Stevenson residents like Justin Reed, a senior family and consumer sciences major.

“The Pemberton residents have to walk everywhere,” Reed said. “We definitely need something like the convenience center on the north part of campus.”

Mark Rusk, a senior speech communication major, agreed with Reed.

“The convenience center should be (in Stevenson),” Rusk said.

Curt Stepp, a resident assistant in Thomas Hall, said that Thomas is a more central location for the new convenience store.

“North campus is getting the new food court, but (Thomas residents) have the same options every day,” Stepp, a sophomore business management major, said. “The convenience center will bring us different options in dining.”

Eric Fatka, a sophomore geology major and Thomas Hall resident, agrees with Stepp in that Thomas was the best choice for the new convenience center.

“Stevenson Hall and the rest of the north campus will have the food court soon, so they will be set,” Fatka said. “Thomas was a good choice.”

Junior Dave Sliwa, a Stevenson resident, mentioned that the north part of campus is currently lacking in food choices.

“We have the same two choices (grill or deli sandwiches) every day,” Sliwa, a psychology major, said. “The South Quad can choose from Thomas, Andrews, Taylor or Carman dining centers.”

Freshman Brian O’Malley, a Thomas Hall resident, believes that it was a “great idea” to put the convenience center in Thomas, noting that the hall’s late night dining option may attract customers to the convenience center as well.

“A lot of people come over to Thomas for late night pizza, so it is the best choice to put the convenience center here,” O’Malley, a journalism major, said.

Don Jones, a junior speech communication major, was upset that the committee chose Thomas Hall over Stevenson Hall, where he lives.

“Stevenson residents are older, so we should get priority,” Jones said.

Some Thomas residents see no need for a new convenience center anywhere on campus.

Thomas resident Neil Lara said that while the convenience center is a “nice option”, it is not a necessity.

“I don’t think that there is a need for another convenience center,” Lara, a senior psychology major, said. “Instead of the new convenience center, why don’t they turn the heat up?”

Senior Muffadal Attarwalla said that the decision to put a new convenience center in his residence hall doesn’t bother him.

“The decision doesn’t affect me,” Attarwalla, a psychology major, said. “Wal-Mart is where I go.”

Karl Aldrich, Stevenson’s resident director, said that while he has no personal opinion on the issue, he feels the choice probably reflects the best interests of the student body.

“Students make the decisions that are best for most students,” Aldrich said. “Thomas must have been the best decision.”