Photo: Paula Groff
Royer Residence Hall will be moving offline for the 2020-2021 academic year for evaluation and focus on other residential areas. The residence hall, built in 1962 and named after local alumni and activist B. Mary Royer, has long housed Elizabethtown College students. However, as of next year, this will no longer be the case.
For the rising school year, Royer will be closed and unavailable as a housing option. In the time the hall is closed, the Office of Community Living will be evaluating the building.
“We wanted to give the building a break as Royer has been a great home for students for many, many years, and taking it offline allows for our Facilities [Management] team to focus on our other residences for the coming academic year,” Director of Community Living Jennifer Crowder stated.
“My experience in Royer has been a positive one. Though many people think Royer is awful, I actually enjoy it! I like to think that living in Royer at least for one year is a ‘right of passage’ for living in Etown,” said sophomore Resident Assistant (RA) and Mr. Royer 2020 Sam Niles said.
Niles reflected on getting to live in Royer as an RA, discussing his favorite memories of seeing the new first-years move in and getting to meet and connect with them.
“But if it is to be offline in the future, it will be a beneficial decision. If it needs the repairs, it has to be done when the building is offline, that’s just how it has to be,” Niles said.
While the decision may surprise some members of the college community, others are not so shocked.
“I think it’s a good idea for Etown to close Royer next year. I think there needs to be some updates for the building to meet college students’ needs,” first-year Royer resident Chloe Smith stated.
Smith elaborated on the residence hall’s inconvenient distance and “run-down bathrooms.”
Other concerns from students have risen about whether the campus will be able to house incoming students next year. With Royer housing approximately 125 students, opinions have been circling on whether or not there will be enough room for a new cohort of students and how the decision is expected to affect the student body.
“Overall, positively. I think it demonstrates our commitment to providing the best housing options we can, while maintaining current options that are more vibrant and desired communities,” Crowder said.
As for potential plans for the building, they are up in the air. While this year will be finished out according to plan, the future is somewhat unknown.
“Our focus on possibilities regarding the building will take shape in the near future, and as we have more to share, we will communicate with students at that time,” Crowder said.
“I think it makes sense to close down Royer in the anticipation of renovation. Royer definitely has some internal issues that are seemingly outdated, so in the end I understand. I don’t see it being a problem leaving it open if need be, though. There is nothing in Royer that is inhibiting me from living comfortably,” Niles said.
There may be exciting opportunities for Royer in the future, however. Crowder discussed her interest in creating a haunted house event in Royer over Halloween. “I’m sure we could convince Ruby, the Royer ghost, to join in the fun,” she said.
With the building’s old-timey appearance, as well as soon-to-be vacancy, perhaps Royer could be the perfect destination for a Hallow-Etown event.
Until more information is sorted for the future, Royer will finish out the year as planned and will be used for conferencing over the summer.
