Students moved into the recently-opened River Campus Center Residence for a variety of reasons but with similar praise.

"There is nothing bad to say about the River Campus," Kaytrina Horton said. "Everyone is saying how nice it is. They did a really good job."

Horton, a transfer student new to Southeast Missouri State University, didn't choose to live at the River Campus because her major, communication disorders, has no classes at the River Campus but was placed there by Residence Life. Even so, Horton has liked living there due to its atmosphere.

"I like it," Horton said. "It's quiet. The campus is quiet. My floor is very quiet as well."

Andrew Hacay, a music education major, had an obvious reason for living at the River Campus.

"Every single one of my classes this semester are at the River Campus, so it's just convenient," Hacay said. "Before I had to drive back and forth every day."

Hacay, a junior who lived in Merick Hall his first two years at Southeast, found that the layout of the rooms at the River Campus are superior.

"The layout of the room is completely different than the [other residence halls],'" Hacay said. "The room itself is about the same size as Merick, but having this whole suite area with the kitchenette is just completely different than any of the other dorm buildings, that I've seen at least."

Each suite at the River Campus has a kitchenette with an additional sink, cabinetry, microwave and a refrigerator. Also, each suite has an additional common space with an included couch, chair, end table, coffee table and 32-inch television.

"The only thing I think is weird about it is that the light switch for the bathroom is outside of the room, so college students can have little wars with each other and turn off the light when someone else is in there," Hacay said.

What Hacay finds most helpful for the music program is the added classrooms inside the residence hall.

"In the Cultural Arts Center [the main River Campus building], we have one big ensemble room where the orchestra and other ensembles practice," Hacay said. "I haven't seen those rooms here, but I know that they have more of that. It will give us more flexibility with when we practice, so all the different groups don't conflict with each other on times because there are a lot of music ensembles."

The hall, which also includes additional dining options at the River Campus, has attracted students who have majors outside of the arts.

"I think it's really beautiful," Monica Noce, a nursing major, said. "That's why me and my roommate, whose major is also nursing, picked it. And that it's brand new. All the beds are new, and it kind of creeps me out knowing that someone else slept on my bed, but it's new here. "

Noce also mentioned that a reason she chose to live there was the surrounding scenery with the Mississippi River and a park right outside of the hall.