Ah, Deans' Hall, (a.k.a. "Dork Dorm"). Fond memories here. Probably everyone thinks this way, but I truly believe that I lucked out and ended up living in one of the best halls on campus our year.
No, Trojan Hall and Marks Hall doesn't have the best reputation, and probably the "Dork Dorm" moniker is usually deserved at any given time. You do need to qualify to live in Dean's Hall (scholarship recipient or other special academic program), which leads to a general population of studiousness and non-rambunctiousness.
There's also no AC, and the area is generally loud. Rooms facing the courtyard get random, college type noises from other rooms, Ground Zero coffeehouse and other dorms (Pardee Tower is also part of the courtyard). Facing Fig, you get urban noises like random people screaming random things at random times, traffic, and 24 hour bus service. For the most quiet rooms, you'll need to get the ones facing south, towards Popovich. Though, I did live on the 1st floor near the bus stop, so I learned to sleep through all sorts of loud noises.
The rooms also remind you of a bomb shelter. The walls are concrete blocks, and the rooms themselves are pretty spartan. Bring a fan, and for god's sake don't hang anything from the sprinkler!
The building itself is made of 3 stories (and a basement) in 2 wings, forming an L shape.
- Basement has a laundry room.
- 1st floor - lobby, common area, TV, faculty advisor apartment, and one wing of dorm rooms (males only).
- 2nd floor - 2 wings of dorm rooms (females only)
- 3rd floor - 2 wings of dorm rooms (males only).
If you're a girl, then you have no choice but the 2nd floor. If you're a guy, I highly recommend the 1st floor, since it still retains the restroom facilities of the non-existent 2nd wing. As such, you have as many showers/toilets/urinals but for half the people, meaning they stay cleaner and more sanitary longer. Because it gets gross in all the restrooms. Especially on the weekends... barbarians.
Right around you, you have easy access to a coffee house, PSX, the Popovich Cafe, the basketball/sand volleyball courts, and the bus stop on Fig. Also a very short walk to Chipotle, Coffee Bean, Coldstone, and Quizno's (none of which existed when I was there... sad face). And there's also the McD's in the Science Museum.
It's not a great dorm... probably one of the worst ones now that there are brand new ones built. But it isn't THAT bad either. read more