Two dormitories at VTSU Castleton won’t be living options next semester, and students are wondering why. 

“My first thoughts of Haskell and Adams not being available next semester were, how are all the students going to have living space, and that application rates were going to plummet,” VTSU student Sarahbeth Martinez said. 

But Director of Residence Life and Housing Operations Michael Robilotto said there is no need to worry about that. 

Robilotto said this year the Castleton campus has 100 students graduating who are currently living on campus, which opens those spots for the incoming freshmen and he hopes the numbers will even back out. 

However, if an influx of students comes in the fall, then the buildings can open back up based on need, he said. 

“We looked at what buildings students want to live in based on occupancy rates,” Robilotto said. “Students want singles and suites, so we didn’t want to take off buildings that were mainly single rooms.” 

However, some students see Haskell and Adams as a top pick. Martinez explains how if she wasn’t fortunate to have been able to live in Castleton Hall next semester, Haskell and Adams would have been her second and third choice, which are now unavailable. 

Robilotto said the VTSU Master Plan had always accounted for each campus taking a building or two offline for renovations and repairs or simply just rest, then to rotate that process throughout the other buildings on the campus. 

“Each campus has at least one building offline for the fall,” he said. “The Randolph campus has a building that has been closed for two to three years and are just now moving forward with renovations to then put another offline.” 

Castleton Hall’s renovations are starting soon, as the closing process of the building has already begun to happen with some students having been moved throughout the year. The plan is for the building to be completely empty after this year’s upcoming commencement so it can open back up for next semester. 

Robilotto stressed that the buildings are not permanently closing but are just offline to students for room selection next semester. He explains how Castleton Hall was always going to be back under construction to fully finish it, with the bathrooms and common spaces first to be tackled. 

Robilotto said decisions are being made with students in mind. He wants them to feel fulfilled in their living space with an ease to making new connections. 

“I would want first-year students living in buildings where they feel a lot is going on within the campus community,” he said. 

Even though only some of the buildings are being taken down and assessed for repairs, at some point he said he’d like to touch every building to do some renovations and repairs. 

“The idea is to start now because the longer we wait, the more the prices of products will go up,” Robilotto said. “Overall, our main goal is that we want students living in places that make them feel comfortable and happy.”