All four options seek to completely de-triple the freshman quad. Trustee George Johnson '73 said that "the discussion has been exhilarating, but thorough consideration is absolutely necessary before such a decision can be reached."
The first plan, proposed by architects Sasaki Associates, is to demolish Williston Hall and replace it with a freshman dormitory mirroring Appleton Hall. This would allow all first-years to be housed on the same quad.
In addition, James and Stearns Halls would be torn down and new dorms would be built. Lieber feels that James and Stearns are "ugly institutionally and have terrible social space." To preserve the aesthetic harmony of the freshman quad, the reconstructed frontal dimensions of these dorms would remain unchanged.
However, Lieber explained that "Z-shaped wings would be added to the back in order to optimize space."
According to Professor of Fine Arts Carol Clark, who is a member of the Dorm Master Planning Committee, this solves a problem, but creates one too.
"Williston is one of the few academic buildings left on the quad and should not be demolished," Clark said. "Professors and students should share the quad."
Working with the Dormitory Master Planning Committee, which includes students, faculty and administrators, the Trustees are taking each of the four plans into consideration.
The second plan under consideration is to tear down Chapin Hall. With Valentine Hall across the quad, this would create a second central area for freshman living on campus. According to Lieber, this is an attractive possibility because it would reduce the isolation Valentine first-years often feel from the freshman quad.
Chapin houses the history and religion departments. These offices would be relocated to Pratt Museum, and geology would move to a new wing built onto the back side of the Merrill Science Center.
"Since the Geology department is in need of a new facility, anyway," Lieber said, "this plan satisfies two of Amherst College's needs."
Clark said that she is in favor of this plan. Chapin is poorly sited, she said, and "ruined a flow between the upper quad and the Valentine quad."
President Tom Gerety explained that Merrill was built to have an addition, though he added that the College would have to consider how well that would fit with the its architectural plan.
The third plan would also construct a second freshman zone. This time, however, Morrow Dormitory would be the site of renovations. Since there is no visually dominant entrance to Morrow, Lieber said that "we would re-orient the facade towards Valentine and renovate it for freshman living."
Consequently, a new upperclassman dormitory would have to be constructed. One site under consideration is the plot behind Fayerwether Hall and in front of Jenkins Hall, or 'B' Dorm. The style of this dorm would be similar to Jenkins, adding a 'C' dorm to the social quad.
The fourth and final scheme would be to renovate Pratt and Morrow for first-years, again creating a second freshman living area. Lieber acknowledged that this plan is feasible because "until five or so years ago Pratt was a mixed-class dorm, freshman included."
Clark said that she is also a proponent of this plan. "We could build a back entrance to Frost, redo Pratt, and add parking," said Clark. "It would cost a lot, but the College is ready to spend."
After the first trustee meeting of the year, Lieber presented the preliminary plans to the Student Government Organization (SGO).
According to SGO President Steve Ruckman '01, "Housing all of the first-year students in the same vicinity fosters a sense of community that is unmatched in any other year of their college experience here," said SGO President Steve Ruckman '01.
"I went to the University of Michigan where the distances were immense," said Clark. "Here, add some steps and it's the same quad."
Despite the position of the SGO, three of the four possible renovation plans would create two freshman quads.
Lieber said, however, that the final decision will take all viewpoints into account. He said that he is planning a second meeting with the SGO.
After the final decision is reached in March, the Trustees and the Dormitory Master Planning Committee will consult with Sasaki Associates over design, cost and building dates. It is unlikely that construction will be undertaken this summer.
The re-evaluation of freshman housing is part of a larger plan to improve housing campus-wide, meant to remain competitive with other prestigious schools.
For example, over the past six years, Williams College has completed a total revamping of its freshman dorms. Yale University is currently renovating each of its residential colleges. Harvard and Princeton Universities have answered by announcing dorm renovation plans as well.
According to Dean of Admission Tom Parker, there is quantitative evidence that poor freshman housing hinders college recruitment. Parker has conducted research on the topic and has found that of last year's accepted freshman class, a majority rated Amherst housing as fair or poor.
On the accepted students' survey, campus housing ranked third from last. It was followed by the quality of social life and surroundings/off-campus social venues.
"When compared with our head-to-head competitors-Brown, Swarthmore, Williams and Dartmouth-we consistently rank behind them in campus housing," Parker said.
He added that he also conducted qualitative research. Before becoming dean of admission, he took over fifteen campus tours incognito as a prospective parent. He consistently heard about discontent with freshman housing.
"James and Stearns are absolutely horrendous buildings," he said. "Couples would turn and whisper to each other when they exited the building."
The trustees also decided over the weekend to go ahead with renovations to Fayerweather Hall.
This decision has been postponed for over a year because of an unexpectedly high construction estimate. However, the current price tag of the improvements is $9 to 10 million according to Clark and is therefore acceptable to the Board of Trustees.
The Trustees also decided to add a staircase to the back of Fayerweather. Clark feels that this will "further incorporate the social quad into the campus."
The interior will also be re-vamped and redesigned. The land in front of Fayerweather will be lowered to add several more steps.
Clark explained that Fayerweather was originally taller, but because of excavations to make a place for Chapin, leftover dirt was spread over the Valentine quad. This height loss of several feet "contributes to the current squat appearance of Fayerweather," she said.