With the newly finished construction of Lancer Park North and Lancer Park South, the addition of 452 upperclassmen students being housed in Lancer Park this year has created various roadblocks for students.
Problems with plumbing, parking and the Farmville Area Bus (FAB) have been some of the most talked about news topics on campus since the beginning of the academic school year. A new addition to Lancer Park also includes a parking lot specifically for freshmen.
Problems with plumbing have been widespread across Lancer Park. Lancer Park North and South have a total of about 500 water heaters. With the sudden move-in of 689 students in Lancer Park for the fall semester, it has caused the water heaters to experience difficulties due to consistent toilet flushing and clogging for the plumbing system.
Since the new toilets constructed within Lancer Park North and South can withstand 1.25 gallons per flush, the amount per toilet flush is less than older toilet models in other residence halls on campus. Because of this, the excessive amount of people over flushing and flushing more than the toilets can withstand is causing occasional plumbing problems throughout the apartment complex.
Douglas Howell, associate director of Residential Operations, as well as Maintenance and Facilities have been doing their best to fix the plumbing problems as soon as possible. The four facility employees have been able to manage the problems well and in a timely manner for residents.
In addition to New Lancer Park North and South, there have been more new changes to Lancer Park this year. About 200 to 250 freshmen are now allowed to park in Lancer Park as initiated by the Admissions Office.
In past years at Longwood University, freshmen have not been permitted to bring cars to campus. With the largest freshman class ever at Longwood, the university offered the first 200 students that send in their deposit by May 1 to be allowed the option to have a car at school.
Freshmen with certain exemptions like employment, medical conditions and active military service are also able to bring their cars to campus.
Additionally, out-of-state students or those students who are suffering from a family emergency are allowed to bring their cars to campus as first year students.
Hannah Miller, a sophomore who was able to have a car on campus her freshman year, spoke about the privilege. She said, “It was great because I didn’t have to ride the FAB, and it was more convenient because I had to go home and plan my sister’s wedding, and it allowed me to be a part of the process.”
She further stated, “I was very grateful.”
Lancer Park allows students to ride to school on the FAB on its Lancer Park Direct Line. This line runs to and from Lancer Park to Longwood’s Main Campus every 30 minutes.
There have been complaints from students about missing the FAB and the 30 minute gap that occurs between each stop, influencing multiple students to arrive late to their classes.
Many students are now approaching the SGA about promoting a change to Lancer Park’s route schedule in order for it to improve the transportation system for residents of Lancer Park.
Sophomore Chaley Timberlake is a resident of the newly constructed Lancer Park and often rides the FAB to and from school. On the subject, she said, “The FAB has saved me from walking to campus, but I would like the FAB to run every 10 to 15 minutes so that I can get to campus quicker.”
With all the new improvements and construction to Lancer Park, these pitfalls were bound to happen, but they are promised to be improved and settled soon by the university.
The Lancer Park North Buildings are among the new Lancer Park additions. Some of the apartments have been experiencing some plumbing problems.
