When the new $20 million residence hall opens in fall 2007, it will be the largest residence hall on campus and ETSU’s first venture into “theme housing.”
In theme housing, students with similar interests are grouped together, most likely on the same floor or wing.
“Some possibilities for theme housing being discussed are moving the first-year experience program to the new residence hall, and reserving a floor for ETSU’s honors scholars,” says Richard Swearingen, associate director for the department of housing and residence life.
The new hall, which is being built in the spot where Frank Clement and Ellington Halls used to stand, has now been officially named Governor’s Hall to continue to honor the namesakes of the dorms it replaces.
It will house a total of 542 students and have a private bathroom in each room. Large program rooms will also be available in the new dorm, where students with similar interests can meet and mingle.
“Right now, the fifth floor is being reserved for 100 students from any honors program,” says Rebecca Pyles, dean of the honors college. “We get a lot of requests from freshmen and transfer students asking for an honors dorm, and we would like to be able to offer one.” Currently there are 140 students in honors programs at ETSU.
Another proposal for theme housing is designating a meeting and living space for sororities. Due to increased enrollment, sororities have outgrown their current meeting space in Panhellenic Hall, forcing some to meet in other buildings.
Talks have begun between the department of housing and the Greek Life program to find a solution to the overcrowding.
Senior Courtney Byrne, a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, feels the effects of the increased enrollment and asks for an answer. “I think a change in location for the sororities is a must. Whether it be in this new hall, or somewhere off campus, it has to be done,” she said.
At Stanford University, which already has a theme housing program in place, students can live in cross-cultural houses, academic houses, or houses grouped around a particular interest, such as environmental issues.
“The various theme houses on campus offer an additional way to integrate living and learning and enhance the residential experience,” says the Stanford Web site.
Many ETSU students have indicated that they would prefer more privacy, but they also want more of a sense of community, says Swearingen. The new hall accomplishes this by offering private bathrooms for privacy and large program rooms and theme housing to facilitate students socializing.
Swearingen projects the cost to ETSU students who want to experience theme housing life in the new residence hall at $2,200 per semester – slightly higher than a semester in the Buccaneer Ridge Apartments.
Those wishing to be considered can get their names on a waiting list by filling out an application that should be available to students in the next academic year.

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