By Ellie Simmers | Assistant Editor and Aisha Knotts | Staff Writer
The university recently announced that multiple residence halls would change status beginning next semester, prompting many students to ask about their housing accommodations for the 2025-26 school year. Residence halls Freer and Shackelford will be “offline” due to renovations, while Hundley will be permanently closed.
The Solutions Center emailed all undergraduate students on Feb. 10 to outline the housing changes that will begin next school year.
“Hundley Hall third and fourth floor residential spaces will be offline starting June 2025 in an effort to address co-mingling of residential space and administrative offices,” the email explained. “Due to aging plumbing infrastructure, the building would be better suited for administrative and support services use as opposed to residential space.”
Charlie Lagueux ‘27, who currently lives on the third floor of Hundley Hall, said he was not surprised when he received the email about Hundley’s closure after this semester.
“As someone who lives there, I’m glad that they are closing it because I don’t think it’s suitable to live in,” said Lagueux, referencing the decision in September to relocate the entire fourth floor of Hundley due to plumbing issues.
Hundley Hall, built in 1954, has a current occupancy of 36%, with only 25 students currently living in the building.
“Freer and Shackelford Halls will be taken offline for at least the 2025-2026 academic year. The rationale behind taking these buildings offline is due to decreased utilization and demand for these spaces because of their aging plumbing and need for renovation,” the solutions center email explained to students.
Talia Megahan, a digital media arts and design transfer student who planned to live in Shackelford Hall again next year, expressed conflicting feelings about the building switching to offline next semester.
“The third-floor bathroom in Shackelford is in serious disrepair. The caulking is ruined, the countertop is detaching from the wall, and the piping constantly clogs,” Megahan said.
Megahan stated that the poor conditions in Shackelford are due to years of neglect and improper maintenance.
“The faucets leak, toilets are coming apart from the wall, and there’s a persistent sewer-like smell. Mold and pink bacteria cover the showers, and the drains haven’t been cleaned in years—you can see layers of hair and gunk,” Megahan said.
“They never properly clean anything. The whole bathroom feels like a petri dish. It needs to be gutted,” noted Megahan, citing her five years of maintenance work experience.
Megahan is also concerned about the cost of renting a house but said she doesn’t want to live in an apartment or townhouse because of her emotional support dog, Basil, who is sensitive to loud noises.
Shackelford Hall, built in 1963, is currently 58% occupied, with only 34 students living there.
Returning students with ADR accommodations and those requesting accommodations for the first time are encouraged to complete both their accommodations request and housing application to help ensure their needs are met.
As for Freer Hall, Khanyisile Mzizi ‘27, an international student from Zimbabwe who also serves as a community assistant, appreciates the university’s initiative to renovate the older residence halls on campus.
“I think it’s good that it’s getting renovated, and then possibly people would want to come back, since it’ll be a better looking place. I do think it needed a touch up, the bathrooms, especially, and even the rooms,” Mzizi said.
Freer Hall, built in 1963, is currently 48% occupied, with only 27 students living there.
“Returning students may continue to be housed in Westover Hall. In addition, Montgomery Hall will now be available for not only new, first year students but also for returning students. This will allow for better utilization of existing space, and provide a substance free environment for new and returning students,” the solutions center stated.
Ramish Sarfarazi ‘28 has enjoyed living in Montgomery Hall as a freshman, noting the proximity to classes and essential buildings as a plus.
“I’ve really liked living here. That said, I’m concerned about housing next year. With fewer residence halls available, there’s less space for students, and I might not get exactly what I was hoping for,” Sarfarazi said.
After the news was announced, students expressed concern with the availability of dorms within the remaining resident halls, Montgomery, Tate and Westover.
“There are plenty of beds, and students have no need to worry,” said Michael Vaughn, Vice President of Operations. “If admission numbers change, we are actively monitoring and will accommodate as needed.”
Sarah Capps, the area coordinator for the university, echoed this reassurance, emphasizing that “Admissions cannot over-enroll, so students are guaranteed housing. Rest assured, there will be space for everyone.”
While the reassurance relieved some concerned students, such as Elaha Amiri ’28, a first-year student, others still have questions about where they will live next year.
As a first-year student, Amiri does not have enough credits to move to Southside yet, leaving her with one housing option, Montgomery Hall, which she is worried will be too crowded with returning students added to the mix.
For returning students with at least 30 credits, there are more options.
According to the Office of Residential Experience, 58 student houses are available for the 2025-2026 academic year. This number includes houses earmarked for Community Assistants, fraternity and sorority housing, Special Interest Housing and general student housing.
This allows returning students to choose from a student house, a townhouse, Westover Hall, Peaksview Apartments or Montgomery Hall.
With the oldest residence halls on the University of Lynchburg’s campus closing or undergoing renovations, students hope that these actions will benefit the restoration of the buildings that have housed students for over 60 years without diminishing the history that makes Lynchburg’s campus so unique.
For information about Residential Life, visit their website.
For information about housing accommodations, visit the Center for Accessibility and Disability’s website.
