Merrill Hall goes coed this year for first time
Men that live in Merrill Hall will not able to lounge around in their boxers anymore without feeling a little weird.
The residence hall, which was open only to male students since its construction in 1960, opened its doors to female residents for the first time last week.
To Houghton Lake junior Doug Pryor, Merrill Hall’s recent gender integration is a new opportunity for the long-standing residential establishment.
“It’s kind of the new beginning of Merrill,” he said.
But the recent decision to change Merrill’s housing policy is just the most recent in a series of hall coeducation changes.
“When I came here as a freshman, Merrill and Thorpe were all male,” Pryor said.
Sweeney and Beddow were exclusively female his freshman year until Thorpe and Beddow were opened to all students in 2007.
Many residents of Merrill reported being pleased with how the integration is working so far.
“It doesn’t seem like it used to be an all-male hall,” said Amanda Todd, a Traverse City freshman.
One student in particular did not seem to be substantially influenced by the recent changes in policy.
“My second floor is pretty much all guys,” said Hemlock sophomore Jamie Hockemeyer.
So far, growing pains have been mostly absent from the rapidly diversified student base.
“People have been very good and courteous around here.” Pryor said.
Sweeney Residence Hall, with all females, is now the only remaining hall open to one gender.
The changes in lifestyle and perspective that come from living in close quarters with strangers of both sexes are being greeted enthusiastically by the new body of residents.
“You gotta figure ‘em out eventually,” Hockemeyer said.
All four floors were given a full renovation over the summer.
“They’ve been doing an overhaul, updating, putting security cameras in... They redid all the carpets and all the doors,” Pryor said.
In particular, a strong effort was made to ensure both the comfort and security of all students returning as well as those arriving at the hall for the first time.
