Ludlow is a luxury for students

The new semester is in full effect, and while some students are getting familiar with their classes, others are getting cozy and comfortable in their dorm rooms at 101 Ludlow.

Baruch students occupy six floors (floors 6-11) of the residency building and share the dorm experience with students from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and King's College.

Amy Snyder is the residency hall director for all of the schools at the dorms, and takes charge of all issues and concerns throughout all floors.

"I live in Westbury, Long Island and I never stayed on dorm before," said Jordan McFarlane-Beau, who is a resident assistant on the 11 floor. "This is nine months away from home and already it's been an amazing experience."

According to McFarlane-Beau, resident assistants were picked "based on a conundrum," and approximately 50 students from the three colleges were trained for the position. The RAs are responsible for making monthly health and safety inspections and enforcing policies in the residency.

"There's not many problems, and because everyone is so nice to each other it doesn't feel fragmented or divided," he said.

The dorm experience has several benefits for students, including free laundry service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The monitoring system takes laundry work to the next level by sending text messages when the washing or drying is complete, and identifying when machines are free.

The community room is located on the same floor, and is equipped with a pool table, couches, a TV and gaming system and a kitchen.

"A lot of people use the kitchen; there are appliances for others to use and it's cleaned every week," said Nicole Alvarez, a resident assistant who attends SVA. Alvarez stated that she lived in another dorm before, but prefers her experience living in a single room at Ludlow because "it's better than having a roommate."

Residents enter their rooms by swiping their residency I.D card. Each room has a desk, bed, fridge, microwave and an air conditioning sytem and heater; along with free wireless Internet and cable. The floors are co-ed, but the rooms and bathrooms based on gender.

Bulletin boards are the trend on every floor, proving residents with information about events and meetings.

Guests are allowed to visit and spend the night at the residency halls at no charge. However, overnight guest forms must be signed prior to their stay. Only two guests are permitted at a time, but they can stay for a maximum of three consecutive days.

There is a strict No Smoking/ Alcohol policy that is carried out and security is available at all times. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., which allows students to get the necessary study or sleep time that they need.

"Baruch students know how to party but also know when to get their work done," said McFarlane-Beau.

The terrace is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers students a space to relax and have fun in an outside environment. According to Alvarez, the hall council directors of the residency usual hold meetings here to talk to residents about the different ways in which they can make improvements within the dorms.

"We are really a part of Baruch history because we are the first group of residents," said McFarlane-Beau. "I like to think of it as the Ludlow family."