For years, Edens Quadrangle has had a reputation as the Trent Drive Hall of West Campus--an inhospitable haven for unlucky sophomores and a sentence to daily 10-minute walks along unlit paths.
That perception may be changing, however, as the landscape of West Campus also changes.
Implicit in its name, planners for the West-Edens Link hoped the new dormitory and quadrangle would bridge West Campus to the more secluded Edens Quadrangle, reinvigorating the Edens community with more social venue options literally right outside their doors.
Some Edens residents said the addition of the 24-hour Rick's Diner and the Blue Devil Beanery in McClendon Tower directly adjacent to the WEL have made life in Edens more convenient.
"Living in Edens isn't really that bad except for the long walk back and forth to West Campus, so I find myself eating at Rick's or ordering out a lot to avoid that," said sophomore Bruce Woods. "Aside from that and somewhat small rooms, I can't complain much. It is what it is."
Although many students take advantage of the diner's 24-hour operation, many students have also taken to the Beanery as a cozy venue to study.
"I work weekday mornings and I see a lot of different students coming in to have breakfast or to study," said sophomore Yang Song, who works at the Beanery. "We also have a lot of faculty regulars who come in to meet or to have a snack."
Junior Jeff Adams, a second-year Edens resident, said he enjoys the convenience of new dining options, but that the WEL may succeed in further isolating Edens residents from the main West Campus scene.
"The WEL has made living in Edens and making the hike up to West more pleasant," he said. "However, if the University's goal was to integrate Edens into Main West, the WEL is actually counterproductive. Now that I can conveniently eat in Edens I have one less reason to go up to Main West. In fact, the only time I am up there is for class."
Others pointed to the WEL as a safer landmark on the walk between West and Edens than the previous mix of forests, parking lots and construction. Still other students felt that more could be done to ensure safety in the more secluded parts of campus.
"It can be scary if you have to come home by yourself because it is so dark and isolated back here," said sophomore Aleyne Isom, who walks through the WEL on her way home. "With Rick's open 24-hours there are usually people around and so I feel safer going home that way."
Administrators and students also pointed to long-time advantages to living on Edens, especially for students who do not receive their top choices on Main West or those who do not want to live on Main West.
"The rooms I have seen on West are cluttered and not as well-maintained as those in Edens," said sophomore Aisha Taylor. "Edens is like a small community away from the chaotic atmosphere of the rest of campus and now that the WEL is here there really is more of a community feel and less detachment from the rest of campus."
Some fraternities also prefer the Edens location.
Junior Damien Moore, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., said the fraternity has had several successful events since the beginning of the year.
"It's nice having parties in our new location because we have more room and are able to hold events without worrying about disturbing too many people," he said.
Deb LoBiondo, assistant dean of residence life and housing services, pointed to Edens' structural advantages as well-such as smaller communities, a larger picnic shelter and gazebo, more space and central air conditioning.
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