JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat Jesus Hernandez of Sundt Construction, Inc., works to finish the Posada San Pedro Residence Hall for the revised deadline. The honors dorm is expected to open for residents fall semester.

Posada San Pedro hall provides new honors environment for fall

This fall, Kaibab-Huachuca Residence Hall will lose its honors status as Posada San Pedro in the Highland District becomes the newest honors hall.

The decision to give honors status to one of the new Highland District residence halls was reached last semester after a number of debates and discussions involving the Honors Student Association and the Yuma, Yavapai and Kaibab-Huachuca hall governments.

Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life, said some students preferred to stay, while others felt relocation was the best option.

In an e-mail to residents, he wrote, "We believe the long-term interests of the university are best served by relocating to one of the new Highland halls, effective next fall."

Kaibab-Huachuca residents who are eligible to return to the residence halls next year will have priority over their rooms, like in any other residence hall.

I think for incoming freshmen, it's good they have the option of a smaller dorm like Yavapai or a bigger place like PSP. ÷ Brody Davis vice president of Yavapai Hall Government

But as an additional option, those Kaibab residents who are also honors students have priority to relocate to Posada San Pedro.

The compromise has left many Kaibab-Huachuca residents satisfied.

"I like the fact that I have the choice of moving or staying," said Aileen Wong, an undeclared sophomore.

Wong also said she doesn't care where she lives next year, but prefers the honors residence hall. She appreciates the strongly enforced quiet hours and academically motivated students.

Kaibab-Huachuca Hall Government President Devon Mcaslan, an anthropology junior, is happy with the outcome, though he has some reservations.

"After the Kaibab-Huachuca hall meeting regarding the honors status change, I thought it was unfair that Kaibab never got a chance to prove itself as an honors hall. It was honors for only such a short period," he said.

Nonetheless, Mcaslan is glad that Kaibab residents can choose where they want to live. Essentially, everybody wins, he said.

The decision to relocate the honors program will not affect Yuma and Yavapai, the other two honors halls. In hall government meetings during the fall, representatives from both residence halls were adamant about preserving their honors status. Due to their close-knit communities and traditional honors status, the residence halls are popular among returning sophomores.

Brody Davis, a pre-business sophomore and vice president of the Yavapai Hall Government, believes that a new honors hall will not hurt Yavapai's return rate.

"I think for incoming freshmen, it's good they have the option of a smaller dorm like Yavapai or a bigger place like PSP," he said. "I don't think the new dorm will affect the interest level at Yavapai because, although everything isn't as new here, our residents have a strong sense of community."

In Yuma, there are 144 residents, 134 of whom are honors students. There are 203 residents in Yavapai, and about 165 are honors students. In Kaibab-Huachuca, 223 of 339 residents have honors status. Posada San Pedro will have rooms for 238 residents. The living cost for the academic year is $3,848.

Posada San Pedro is located along North Highland Avenue next to Villa del Puente and Pueblo de la Cienega. Along with Pueblo de la Cienega, Posada San Pedro will open in fall 2004, featuring three floors for men and women.

The 11 foot by 16 foot rooms come with captain style beds, closet space and standard furniture.

Other features of the hall include an interior courtyard, four study lounges, living rooms, recreational areas and a TV lounge. One recreational area comes with a grand piano, while others have a pool table, a pingpong table and a dining location.

Although Residence Life is unsure how many non-honors students they will allow into Posada San Pedro, they are confident there will be a high demand among honors students.

Ray Corral, associate director of facilities for Residence Life, said, "We think that honors students will love to live here."

Patricia MacCorquodale, dean of the Honors College, said she feels that the relocation will continue to build a strong honors program at the UA.

"I believe that this hall has many features that will build community," MacCorquodale said. "The design of the hall encourages interaction across the hall, which will be particularly attractive to honors students."

Residence Hall Association President Dan Tuttle, a sophomore majoring in international studies and economics, is also happy with the change.

"I think it's fair that Kaibab residents have priority, because many of them chose to live in Kaibab based on the honors status. It's good they are given the choice to retain that for next year," he said.

Despite the changes, MacCorquodale said she is optimistic about the future for both Posada San Pedro and Kaibab-Huachuca.

"Posada San Pedro provides a wonderful new opportunity for honors students. Kaibab-Huachuca has been a good honors hall, and some residents will miss its honors designation," she said. "Nonetheless, Kaibab-Huachuca will continue to be a strong hall with a sense of community and an inviting, spirited environment."