The entire south tower and most deluxe triple rooms of the north tower of Carman Hall and the north tower of Thomas Hall received new furnishings over the summer, but student reactions are mixed.

The renovations included new mattresses, carpet and stackable furniture, and students at Carman Hall are pleased by how movable the furniture is.

“The way that it is stackable is really nice. You can arrange it any way you want,” said Adam Foster, a freshman social science major.

“There’s definitely enough space,” said Anthony Nakvosas III, a freshman pre-engineering major. “The only thing is the desks aren’t that deep with a computer … where do you put the homework? But beside that, it’s real nice, better than the girls dorms and I like how the chairs lean back.”

Thomas and Carman halls were only the first two of the residence halls that will get the furnishings built through the Illinois Department of Corrections.

“The only limit is your imagination,” said Mike Abernathy, a junior graphic design major and Resident Assistant for Carman Hall. “Everything is stackable and customizable.”

In comparison to Carman Hall furniture last year, Abernathy said, “It’s nicer, it’s lighter and it lets you be more creative.”

Some residents of Thomas and Carman still using the old furniture do not mind.

“We’re dealing with the old furniture since we haven’t experienced the new furniture, it seems to be holding up so far,” said Valerie Reil, a freshman undecided major and Carman Hall resident. Reil lives in a deluxe tripple without the new furniture.

“It’s not a bad thing,” said Ryan Parsons, a freshman chemistry major and resident of Thomas Hall. “We don’t have to worry about damaging the new furniture. I don’t really have a problem with it.”

A portion of Carman residents believe the furniture should have been put in the other tower.

“I just think the guys would ruin the furniture quicker and the girls would appreciate it more,” said Liz McNamara, a freshman elementary education major and Carman Hall resident. “We’re buying little area rugs, to cover the floors, and the guys carpets are probably ruined already and it’s only been a week.”

“(The boys now) have more drawer space and girls have more clothes, we all know this. They have two huge dressers with three drawers and locks. It looks nicer too,” said Meggie Gilmartin, a freshman speech communication major and Carman Hall resident.

Some Thomas residents want the new furniture.

“At first I really didn’t care about the furniture, but then I found out I had a squeaky bed and was kind of upset,” said Tony Tousignant, a sophomore accounting major and resident of Thomas Hall.

“The stackable furniture is real convenient, saves space and time and I like the color of the wood,” said Zach Depyssler, a freshman marketing major.

Kris Mettelmann, a freshman accounting major, said, “It seems like more than just a bedroom with it organized like this.”

“Some of the reasons I picked here (to live) is for the carpeting and furniture,” said Mike Bailey, a freshman business major.

Thomas Hall residents said the new furniture gives alternatives for organization.

“The thing I like most of all is the new furniture gives more options to how you want to live,” said Matt Rosenbaum, a junior elementary education major and Thomas Hall resident. “I miss the bolsters to an extent, but the new shelves give a little more depth and are more accessible.”

“It’s fun because it’s like legos for grown ups,” said Kevin Leverence, a junior psychology major and Thomas Hall Resident Assistant.

Campus editor Jennifer Chiariello can be reached at [email protected]