University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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STUDENT LIFE Dr. Johnetta Cross- Brazzell performs the cutting of the red tape at the Maple Hill dedication. After the ceremony students, faculty and Maple Hill supporters celebrated with cake.

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MAPLE HILL DEDICATION | H ardwood floors. Flat screen TVs. Fireplaces. These luxuries are not what many associate with an image of a typical college dormitory. However, the new Maple Hill complex, which housed more than 1,100 people, was much more than the usual dorm. Along with Maple Hill’s unusual luxuries, there were multipurpose classrooms for quiet study time or study groups as well as community lounges equipped with full kitchens, couches and televisions. In Maple Hill South, there was a cafe, an auditorium, seminar rooms and more. All of these were considered to be part of the goal of making Maple Hill the most convenient, comfortable and community-oriented dorm on the UA campus. “[Maple Hill is] not just a building,” Dr. Johnetta Cross-Brazzell,Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, said at the building’s dedication. “The strength of a university depends on the strength of its community.” Randy Alexander, executive director of housing, said the vision for Maple Hill was formed with three things in mind: comfort, education and modernization. The goals were to make the residence hall “more comfortable and more like home [while still having] the space to support strong community and student living,” Alexander said. Alexander said when Maple Hill opened in the fall of 2007 it was a little rough because of construction.” However, many students felt it was worth it to weather out the changes. Resident Assistant Mac Mathis, sophomore public administration major, lived in Maple Hill for its first two years and believed no matter what problems might arise, Maple Hill had plenty of potential and was developing a strong sense of student community. In addition to Cross-Brazzell’s words, Addison Pritchard, sophomore landscape architecture major and Student and Activities Interest Board president of Maple Hill, gave a firsthand account of student life in The Mape.” He described having the complex’s various resources, programs and state-of-the-art facilities at hand. “[Maple Hill] is a great facility and the staff has made it the best res¬ hall on campus,” Pritchard said. “[It] gives you a sense of independence, yet promotes community living.” Chancellor Gearhart also spoke at the ceremony. He stressed the importance of being able to house thousands of students without overcrowding. “Spectacular growth causes strain on existing resources, Gearhart said. However, he felt that the construction of Maple Hill alleviated any MAPLE HILL IS A GREAT FACILITY AND THE STAFF HAS MADE IT THE =ST RES-HALL ON CAMPUS. } -ADDISON PRITCHARD strain the University might have felt. Gearhart said the necessities for college life were different from those decades ago. “[I am] very pleased that we are able to provide these fantastic, facilities,” Gearhart said. Indeed, Maple Hill was a symbol of change and improvement on the campus. In dedicating the Maple Hill residence hall, Cross-Brazzell said the UA was “dedicating an idea, a concept.” Chancellor Gearhart praises the University for being able to provide such luxurious housing. Gearhart was one of several people to admire the unrivaled comforts of Maple Hill at the dedication. COMMUNITY SHOWERS UA CELEBRATES ITS HIGH-END DORMITORY. TEXT: ROSALYN TAYLOR HELEN CHASE IMAGES: JONATHAN GIBSON 27