McCarty 'outdoor' floors to disappear

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"I think this is [bs]. They're getting rid of one of the greatest houses. I've lived here for two years and it's one of my favorite things about this college."

[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED] Senior Ryland Mangin-Hoeflich[HTML_REMOVED]

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McCarty Hall's third and fourth floors will soon say goodbye to canoeing trips and hiking excursions. floors, lovingly called "The Outhouse" by their residents, are set to undergo a change of face.

The Outdoor House offers residents a chance to plan and participate in outdoor activities including skiing, sailing and camping, according to the Housing and Food Services (HFS) web site.

After consideration by HFS officials, the halls will shed their title as a themed residence at the beginning of next year.

Dissolving the floors because of a lack of student participation and enthusiasm is unfair, said senior Colin Wilson, who has lived in the House for two years.

"I have gone on some of the activities, but let's face it, we're all students here, and we have other commitments including -- but not limited to -- school. We can't all go on every activity," he said.

HFS needs to put more consideration into the students it assigns to themed floors, Wilson said. He said placing students in the halls who have no interest in the outdoors is just asking for problems.

"There are a lot of people here who didn't sign up for The Outhouse, and there are many people who wanted to be in it but couldn't because it was full," the mechanical engineering major said. "Something is wrong here."

Sophomore Yuko Okamura said that since the house is closing at the start of next year, instead of at the end of the quarter, the decision doesn't have a major impact on most students.

"They put up posters on all of our doors, so everyone knows about the closing," she said. "A lot of us weren't planning on living here next year anyways, so it doesn't really matter."

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"I don' think students care all that much. I haven't participated in events here this year or last year. I just don't think it really matters."

[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED] Junior Bryan Menzia[HTML_REMOVED]

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Several residents were upset after hearing about the closing and did not receive clear answers or reasoning from HFS officials, sophomore Lacey O'Connell said.

"It was a big surprise," she said. "They just told us a few weeks ago. I feel like no one on the floors had any say in the matter."

The residents were told HFS was looking into designating programs for different departments on the floors, such as a hall for engineering majors, O'Connell said.

"If the reason that The Outhouse is going away is because we don't participate in enough activities, then why is the Honors House not also disappearing?" Wilson said. "Do they participate in activities? Probably not. Even if we don't have enough people going on our outings, we have a great community here."

HFS officials were not available for comment Monday.