This past summer, the OUS/ First Gen house was completely renovated including new floors, computer labs, a lounge with a television and video game area, homework space, a group study room and printers! Upstairs are the offices of OUS Directors Frank Frey and Frank Kuan, Graduate Residential Fellow Salote Tenisi ’15 and Assistant Dean and Director of First Generations Program Drea Finley ’13. The house is open to all OUS students, First Generation students and their friends. Students are constantly found using the space to work on homework together, cook dinner for one another or just hang out and watch a movie.
Students serving food at a family dinner!
One first-year student was asked where his favorite place on campus was, and he replied “my favorite place on campus is the OUS/ First Gen house. Sometimes it gets hard to be so far away from your family when you are at college and the house became my home away from home”.
Two biology students agreed that they have no idea what they would do without the group study room in the house. “We are always meeting here before exams with our peers to go over notes and study together”.
Students have even utilized the house to host performances and get-togethers. Often times, different themed nights occur in the house such as poetry night, where students gather and recite different work and share new ideas with friends.
For everyone, family dinners in the house are a very cherished time. Students from all four years as well as Frank Frey, Frank Kuan, Drea and Salote come together to enjoy a great meal and just catch up with one another.
The OUS house is a place for students to unwind, get work done, relax, and have fun with one another. Many students cannot imagine their time at Colgate without having the house as their sanctuary!
The house is also equipped with an extensive library where students can often find their textbooks!
Valeria Felix ’18 working in the living room.