The Jambar

Issue date: 6/7/07 Section: Campus Life

From left: Senior Dorian Chenault, sophomore Vance Cooksey and sophomore Cedric Perry.

Though many residential students find ways to entertain themselves, some admit that there are pros and cons to staying at Youngstown State University during the summer months.  

Resident Assistant Hasan Ghayur said he prefers to stay. "It's a nice way to socialize and make friends," he said, and living in housing means he does not have to worry about cooking for himself.  

Although his job as a summer RA at Cafaro keeps him occupied, Ghayur goes to the Southern Park Mall in his free time and attends and plans programs in the residence hall.  

He attended a recent ice cream social and looks forward to the upcoming volleyball tournament. The dollar-theater would be a great place to hold another student activity, he said.  

Cafaro's housing coordinator Josh Mays wants to increase the number of activities over the summer, Ghayur said. During fall and spring Cafaro holds about six activities, while in the summer it holds about eight.  

Other students are involved on campus.  

Sophomore Callie Lowe belongs to the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and is involved in planning for the sorority's formal. She plans to attend the sorority sleepover in July.  

Fewer residents on campus make some daily tasks easier, like doing laundry. During the fall and spring, junior Juli Merhaut sometimes has to fight for a washer or dryer - but it can be lonely. "It's like a ghost town," Merhaut said.  

Merhaut is involved in a Residence Hall Association. "That carries over into the summer a little bit," Merhaut said.  

Although Merhaut prefers staying on campus during fall and spring because there are more activities, she said she likes summer's slower pace and the Catholic Student Association barbecues.

While Sophomore Nick Miladore does not feel socially disadvantaged by staying on campus during the summer, he would like to see more places open at convenient times.  

Although many places are open for summer, sometimes they have limited hours. During the week, the lab he and his classmates attend runs until 9 p.m., while the dining hour ends at 6:30 p.m. "Three nights out of the week we can't even eat dinner here," Miladore said.  

"There's not too much that goes on," Miladore said of campus life during the summer. However, as an RA at Cafaro, he said he is more involved with activities that his residence hall puts on.  

One student does not rely on the university to stay occupied.  

Stephen Foley, a junior who lives at Weller House, believes the university should not be responsible for executing student activities.  

"I don't really think the university needs to change what they're doing, he said."  

Foley said he usually goes to Pittsburgh when he wants to find things to do off campus. He would like to see more restaurants and other destinations available around campus. "You don't want to have to go very far," he said.  

"You can only do what you prepare for yourself," Foley said, of campus activities, "The University doesn't provide anything as far as entertainment goes."  

Danielle Myer, associate director of housing and residence life, said there are 70 students staying on campus this summer for full or part-time. Last fall, there were more than 800 students staying on campus.

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