Elon University students have expressed concern about the use of their common living spaces as classrooms for spring semester courses. Currently, common rooms in Kivette and Staley Halls, are being used for a total of four classes throughout the week. The buildings were constructed with the intention of being used as common living and learning spaces, according to Niki Turley, assistant dean of students, and were used for Elon 101 classes during the fall semester. Unlike the fall classes, courses currently using the space require a change in the furniture, drawing the attention of residents accustomed to using the room regularly and raising concern that they weren’t notified of the change.

“If they have concerns, they should let us know and we’re willing to talk to them,” Turley said. “It wasn’t a matter of not telling them. I mean, I’m sure we’ve communicated it. The spaces were designed that way.”

Freshman Ben Morse, who remained on campus during Fake Break, said mid-way through that week he entered the common room and realized the furniture had been removed and replaced with large round tables. According to Morse, none of the students living on the hall had been notified of the change in furniture arrangement and the room’s use, his biggest concern. On the final day of Fake Break, they received an email from Dawn Morgan, assistant director of Residence Life for Colonnades, regarding the courses.

“Personally, I don’t want to learn where I sleep,” Morse said. “The main point is we weren’t notified until several days after the fact. We weren’t asked, we weren’t notified, there wasn’t a vote, I don’t think our area office voted on it. It was just kind of done.”

Students are allowed to use the room anytime it is not in use as a classroom, but are responsible for moving the common room furniture, now stored in the lobby, and then ensuring the tables are arranged correctly for class.

There has been a change in the group dynamic of the hall, Morse said, as the students generally are discouraged from using the room because of the need to move the furniture repeatedly. Morse, and freshman roommate Evan Lutvak also leave their room open for tours on Fridays, during which time Morse did homework in the common room until the tour was complete.

[quote]“I do not want strangers to have free access to the building nor do I want to be woken up for a class that I do not have to attend.” -Ashton Harris, junior Colonnades resident [/quote]

“With classes there, I can’t do that,” Morse said. “The building is not mine. We chose to do the tours. We did not choose to have the common room used as this space.”

Lutvak said he sought the assistance of Morgan, who then sent the email to residents. While Morgan was unavailable for comment, Lutvak said she told him she had not been informed and could not do anything about the situation.

“The school just raised $100 million and you’re telling me they can’t find classroom space?” Lutvak said. “That’s great, if you want to test this out. That’s fantastic. But either inform us about it and make sure we’re OK with it, and if you’re not going to check with us, refund us what we paid for that space because we can’t use it.”

According to Turley, using areas for both living and learning is a major initiative of the university and will be employed in the intended global neighborhood.

“In terms of communicating excitement about residential campus, students are eager to have spaces where they are having continued conversations,” she said. “We don’t want to isolate or limit the learning experience. It’s really exciting because we already know Elon has amazing engaged learning and we know that students are engaged learners and that learning isn’t isolated to an aspect or a classroom.”

Junior Ashton Harris said after paying a fee to live in a location on campus, she expected to have access to every part of the building.

“I am not paying for a freshman global class to be able to have the ‘comfort of home’ in their classroom,” she said. “If I, along with the other residents on my floor, are not able to sit in our common room when we want or be able to do work in our common room when we want, we should be reimbursed a nominal amount for the time we are unable to occupy the room.”

She said she is most concerned that the classes are scheduled in the early morning and her bedroom is near the classroom space.

“Starting around 7:45 a.m., I hear freshmen banging on the door to be let in since they do not having swiping ability,” she said, noting her classes don’t start until later in the morning. “I do not want strangers to have free access to the building nor do I want to be woken up for a class