U-M's Barbour, Newberry dorms prove long-lasting worth

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | Source: metromode

Two of the University of Michigan's most unique dormitories once again proved their resilience as Betsy Barbour and Helen Newberry continued to hold their historic ground in a campus forever modernizing its student-housing options.

The two mansion-style dorms across State Street from the Diag date from the early 20th Century and today house 221 students between the two of them. The period architecture makes the buildings easily mistaken for a fraternity or sorority.

They stand in contrast to the beehive of housing that is the university's quads and Hill area dorms. In fact the university decided last week to let Barbour keep its dining facilities instead of moving them to the nearby, nearly finished North Quad. Barbour and Newberry have been able to avoid consolidation into larger dorms by carving out a niche, serving as a female-only dorm with a down-home feel.

"It's so home like," says Ankita Mohanty, a senior with a major in psychology at U-M who has lived in Newberry for three years. "Even the lighting is a little different, a little home like. It makes us feel like we’re in a house more than a dorm."

Mohanty points out that the "beautiful" architecture and high interaction between students helps improve the student living experience by providing another living option. The near constant interaction between students who live there helps encourage a more personal bond.

"When I leave the resident hall I am leaving a very comfortable space," Mohanty says. "Coming back is like coming back to friends and family."

Source: Ankita Mohanty, student at the University of Michigan and Peter Logan, spokesman for the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke