This year 78 students are living in the Red Lion River Inn, adjacent to campus. While it tacks on a couple minutes to the walk, there are definitely some perks.
Each room is double the size of a typical residence hall, with only two people per room and a full bathroom to each room. Not to mention air conditioning. "I'm giving my fan away to friends in Desmet," sophomore Lauren Bieker boasted about the extra amenities.
The Red Lion also doesn't boast the average "hotel feel." All the normal residence hall signs are up and doors are always open. They don't enter through the same doors as the hotel guests and the dorm wing is completely shut off from the rest of the hotel as well as being the farthest wing from the main entrance. Laundry is the same as it would be in a residence hall. There is a common room and the furniture is all what would be used in the newer dorms.
One difference is that there are no keys, just key cards used for entrance. "It's not quiet and there's always stuff going on," Bieker said. "It doesn't feel like a hotel at all."
The resident advisers in the Red Lion are trying hard to foster a community within the building, especially since it is slightly segregated from the rest of campus.
"We've had four programs already," said Kristen Konrad, sophomore RA in the Red Lion. "We had a meet and greet with the boys downstairs. It's been great."
Residents seem to agree. The added space and close-knit community seem to make the distance easily bearable.
"It is kind of isolated," Bieker said. "But it's made our dorm close."
There was a concern for parents and incoming freshmen at first about safety, as the students would not live directly on campus. "[Parents] were concerned about the community," said Stuart Davis, associate director of housing operations. "They didn't think it would offer a good [community] for a first year."
However, concerns seem to have subsided for the most part as students settled in and found their own community.
"A couple parents were concerned," Konrad said. "But now I think all the parents say it's great."
Freshman Leo Nava doesn't feel like he is missing out on any experiences because of the different living area.
"We all walk to the COG together every day," Nava said. "And if there's something going on we'll see it."
The hotel is just across from Dussault, creating the DuLion block. The walk is moderate and students do not seem to feel at risk, safety-wise.
"It's really not bad," Bieker said. "I don't feel any less safe here. You just have to be smart."
"It just feels long when I walk to Marian [Hall]," Nava added.
There are 60 freshmen and 18 sophomores living on the two floors of the hotel wing. "It doesn't differ greatly from the smaller dorms," Davis said.
It was surprising to many to know that the Red Lion had to be used this year because of the opening of Coughlin Hall and the space provided by the Kennedy Apartments. But the yield, or number of students that accepted the offer of admission, was higher than expected.
Davis said Gonzaga has a contractual agreement with the Red Lion. The cost is the same as it would be to live in any of the newer dorms: Dillon, Goller, Twohy or Coughlin. They are equipped with cable, phone and Internet just like every other dorm. All the old rules still apply, including parking permits, alcohol violations and intervisitation hours.
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