While living on campus in their own rooms, students in McConnell Hall can focus on academics and still enjoy community activities.
George Wood Jr. | Argonaut
McConnell residents Rachel Redding and Vaneeta Rattan (from left) coordinate programs for the McConnell community. Recently, the two residents bought a pool table for the McConnell basement with community hall funds.
McConnell Hall has 65 single rooms with community bathrooms similar to other on-campus dorms. Each room has a sink and a microfridge as well as brand new furnishings.
One of the resident assistants at McConnell, Sydney Richardson, said there are about 50 students currently living there.
“McConnell is for more non-traditional students,” Richardson said. “So, we have a lot of upperclassmen and a lot of graduate students. It’s more mature living set, I think, than the other halls.”
Another McConnell RA Dan Roach said McConnell is different than the Theophilus Tower, Wallace Residence Center and Living Learning Community, as it is not targeted to first-year students.
“McConnell is more for the type of person where they are upperclassmen,” Roach said. “(They) spend a lot of time studying (and) they want to have a single room to have that privacy and quiet atmosphere. At the same time, it’s also still a community because we have our own community council (when) we meet every week.”
Just like other on-campus living options, McConnell Hall has community activities for residents.
McConnell has three floors and a basement — two male floors and one female floor. The basement is where the central activities take place. There is a lounge area with couches, a TV, a pool table, a ping pong table and an air hockey table. There is also a kitchen and two computers with a printer for student use.
Richardson said the events in McConnell are low key since everyone is usually busy. She said most of the time, the activities in McConnell include getting together and doing fun activities both on and off campus.
“We did a Dads’ Weekend barbecue, which is always really fun,” Richardson said. “We also try to get involved in things like ‘Paint the Palouse’ and other service events.”
Roach said other common activities include movie nights in the lounge area, watching bands play music or watching guest speakers in Moscow.
“Just the other weekend, we watched The Oscars at the Kenworthy Theater,” Roach said. “We will do some cooking program in the basement, (and) we will go as a group to ‘Late Night at the Rec.'”
President of McConnell Hall Vaneeta Rattan said she came as a transfer student to UI last semester from Treasure Valley Community College. She said she likes living in McConnell because it helps her focus on studying and at the same time she can still enjoy many activities it offers.
“McConnell is a very nice, peaceful place and it’s a great place for studying,” Rattan said. “No one really bothers you, unless you go bother someone … Overall, it’s a nice place to stay.”
As the president, Rattan runs council meetings every week. She also works with the RAs, vice president and the adviser to plan activities and events.
“I think McConnell is definitely best for those students who are non-traditional, who are transferring and they want a single-living environment,” Richardson said. “It’s better for their study or if they’re academically focused.”
Nurainy Darono can be reached at [email protected]