Kyle Steeves’ concern about safety eventually caused him to leave Harrington for good.
The Harrington resident for three years said issues with bathroom hygiene and damages to the hallways and rooms caused him to switch to Rigby Hall in his final year of studies before graduating last year.
Stories like Steeves’ have contributed to the reputation of Harrington as a party residence out of control. But with this week’s one-year anniversary of the booze ban in Harrington, what exactly, if anything, has changed?
A considerable amount, says residence manager Clayton Beaton.
“One of the big things I’ve noticed this year there is this renewed sense of pride, which was always there, but it seems that there is a really motivated leadership group, when you are talking about house committee members or the residence advisor team, they came in with things they wanted to achieve on behalf of Harrington.”
So what are some of the things Harrington has achieved so far? Harrington has had multiple fundraising events, including for their house charity The Fredericton Boys and Girls Club, and they raised money for Chatham social rep Chris Rice, now confined to a wheelchair after a poolside accident in the summer.
Beaton says the numerous changes and renovations to Harrington Hall have raised the spirit of the residence.
The first floor was renovated; two larger rooms on the first floor were gutted and made into a lounge area with French doors as soon as you walk in. In addition, residence advisors now have offices.
“It’s good for us to show we are willing and able to do things for the community if we see that there is larger benefit for both sides. They were saying they needed a place to come together and to showcase their residence, they wanted something new and something different and we were able to accommodate that.”
Kevin Lemieux, a second-year student, says the changes have been positive.
“I feel that since that first floor lounge has been made, it’s really a place where people are always there. Any time you walk through the main door you always see people hanging out. [It’s] just a good sense of community and family within the first years especially.”
Lemieux says the liquor ban allowed students to learn from their mistakes and be more accountable for their actions.
“I feel like people have grown up this year. These first years are taking responsibility and making sure that things aren’t getting destroyed. And if they see something get destroyed, they will report and will tell the RA’s, and be like ‘oh I saw so and so do this.’”
Vanier residence advisor and last year’s house president Caitlin Doiron said the renovations look great and help establish a new residence culture.
“I’ve been there a few times. It looks great. I think that with anything when you get a renovation like that, you are going to treat it with respect. It’s the same with Vanier. Because they are new, people are putting effort to make things look nice, because they look so great and I think that is what you are going to get when you make renovations in any building anywhere.”
Steeves said he’s glad to hear about the Harrington make-over and wished they’d been made sooner.
“To hear of such improvements being made in the overall well-being of the new residents makes me very happy, being a fellow Raider. My only regret was that these improvements were not made sooner so things would’ve played out differently.”
