When moving to the University, I never expected to consider my dorm a as a new home. Busey-Evans, a small University Housing dorm located at 1111 W. Nevada St., Urbana, was the first building I entered as a college student last August.

Four floors tall — not including the basement — stands a roughly 100-year-old dormitory. Don’t let it fool you, though. This air-conditioned residence hall holds all the standard amenities: Wi-Fi, water bottle fillers, security cameras and gender-neutral bathrooms, all necessities for the average college student.

Busey is connected to Evans — the all-female and all-male dorms, respectively — through the lobby. Both buildings host identical lounges — in a classical style complete with their cozy furniture, lovely glass windows and beautiful baby grand pianos. These areas entice students looking for a quiet place to study.

Beyond that, the shared basement encompasses a multitude of resources.

The MPR (or TV lounge) is the main lounge with a TV, furniture, study rooms, music practice rooms and tables for ping- pong or foosball. Down the hall, you can find the computer lab which also contains several modern study rooms and printer access.

Other essential things found in the basement include the laundry room, kitchen, vending machines and current ly empty dining hall. While Busey-Evans’ dining hall is not currently open, the area of tables and chairs is often taken over by studying students.

As for dining, the options stretch across campus.

Having a dining plan while living at Busey-Evans presently allows the freedom to eat at any University Housing dining hall. You may think it is a pain to travel for meals, but thankfully the University bus service makes it as easy as possible — serving several bus stops right outside Busey-Evans.

If you prefer walking, that’s fine. Just a block away is the Main Quad. Having arguably one of the best locations on campus, Busey-Evans is one of the closest dorms to the Main Quad standing across from the School of Music. 

Not only is it close to many school buildings but also restaurants. Across the street on either side of the block are several establishments, including multiple cafes. Subway, Basil Thai, Espresso Royale, Rosati’s, KoFusion and Caffe Bene are all a short walk from Busey-Evans.

In between those restaurants is The Canopy Club. This popular venue for events, concerts and more is a great place for students to have some fun on the weekend. It often hosts events and formal dances for different clubs. In the past, several big names have performed at the venue, including Snoop Dogg and Fall Out Boy.

In the backyard of Busey-Evans is CRCE. It is not yet at full capacity but still boasts facilities including an indoor pool (with a waterslide), a hot tub, a cardio/weight area, an indoor track and several sports courts.

As a smaller and lesser-known dorm, Busey-Evans tends to foster a quieter community. The hallways and lounges are often quiet which is good news for any students in need of a new place to cram for a midterm. While the halls are quiet most of the semester, the community is still friendly, warm and welcoming. The hall council plans seasonal events such as Friendsgiving or Valentine’s Gift Exchange for residents. 

The features, location and community of the dorm make it a comfortable, safe and convenient place to live. This dorm has helped me adjust as a college freshman. From this resident, I advise you to give living here some thought when you apply for housing. 

Maggie is a freshman in LAS.

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