When you submit yourself to randomly assigned housing freshman year, there are three stages of emotion: Deadly fear you'll get stuck up in North Campus, impassiveness that you'll most likely get thrown on the Hill and a dim hope you'll actually get put on Central Campus. And if you just so happen to get  West Quad? Get down on your knees and convert to Christianity.

West Quad is fantastic. It's got way bigger rooms than anything on the Hill, it's a two minute walk to your first class, and it's connected to the Union which means you can walk from your room to Wendy's at 2 AM in January wearing no shirt, gym shorts and flip flops (my attire my entire sophmore year in the dorm). Lastly, it's the only public dorm on campus that doesn't look like it was designed using an Etch-a-Sketch. Covered in Ivy, encased in old brick, you can pretend you're living in a place with a rich history.

Unfortunately, in the rich historical times, there were no such things as elevators. So when you want to move in your futon on the fourth floor, I'd consider hiring your own personal sherpa unless you want to spend welcome week in a back brace. Also, the place is a maze. Some hallways don't connect and just dead end when you KNOW your friend lives in the hall right behind the brick wall. Too bad, walk down two flights, then walk over, then walk back up. It's like playing Candyland except way more annyoing.

It's not party central like Markley, but with unlimited access to fast food, severely shortened walk times and lounge worthy rooms, it's an amazing place to be. And possibly the reason you'll gain the freshman thirty, come to think of it.