The Greenway dorms, Amherst College’s newest additions, were completed in late-August of 2016. It is decked out with many common spaces, and it serves 296 students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) with singles, doubles, and suites. In a nutshell, it has a lot going on. To understand them better, I decided to interview a current Greenway resident, Sarah Shusta ‘18E. She was one of the four tour guides of the Greenway Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. Here is the Q&A:
To start us off, what are your initial thoughts of the Greenway dorms.
“I like how they have created a stronger sense of community with their open and welcoming layouts, in addition to their creatively constructed nooks.”
So, what part of the Greenway dorms have you not gone to?
“N/A. I’ve gone to every part.”
List the dorms based on the most traffic.
“B > A > C > D”
Do you know the reason behind their name?
“Because of its eco-friendly, GREEN ways”
What do you wish you could rename them?
“PCA” (from Zoe 101)
Favorite spot:
“I don’t want to say it because others will take it from me”
Favorite piece of furniture:
“It was the television until someone broke it… now everyone is dissatisfied.”
Proudest meal cooked in the kitchen:
“To be determined…”
Improvements needed:
“Air conditioning and a mechanism to slow down shutting doors”
What do you think of the The Great and Giant Wooden Clip?
“It’s a strange form of aesthetic, but a symbol of Amherst nonetheless”
(Interpret that, as you will)
Is there anything specific that confuses you in the dorms?
“What are the metal rods in the art studio? Why can we only open a quarter of the windows?”
Fun fact: “Amir is on the Recycling bins.”
(Shout out to Amir Hall ’17, a fantastic human being at Amherst, for unknowingly being featured in this post)
Another fun fact:
“To prevent direct sunlight from overheating the rooms, the architects used special techniques, like crafting L-shaped window attachments and protective applications on the windows themselves.”
Is Greenway what you expected it to be?
“Actually, no, it’s better.”
All in all, Sarah would give the Greenway Dorms a 9 out of 10.
[This interview was conducted in one of the Greenway common spaces overlooking the soccer fields, where the Amherst soccer teams crushed the game against Williams.]