The Xavierite
Pacelli Hall has recently received extensive renovations in order to accommodate the housing of Chinese students coming to St. Xavier University to study abroad. The renovations to Pacelli Hall include work on aesthetic appeal, and practical layout of the residence hall’s communal spaces.
The renovations done to Pacelli Hall are noticeable in the front lobby where a former public safety office was converted into a communal meal area.
The other noticeable change lays in the renovated recreational space that also has new carpeting, freshly painted walls, and a pingpong table. On the outside of the building there also has been a degree of masonry and landscaping work done as well.
Residence Hall Director Katarina Aschenbrenner works in Pacelli Hall currently and is anticipating the arrival of the study abroad Chinese students to St. Xavier to go smoothly.
Aschenbrenner believes that the renovations to the 77 rooms at Pacelli Hall will help the Chinese students adjust to life at St. Xavier, while also helping them still feel a communal style of living.
One of the details Aschenbrenner pointed out is the enhanced and opened up kitchen area that will allow the students the opportunity to cook and eat together. This is a feature not featured as prominently in other dorms on campus, but will help the Chinese students get to know each other better according to Aschenbrenner.
The resident advisers at Pacelli Hall are also making preparations for the arrival of the Chinese students by doing programming work that prepares them for the work they will do with the study abroad students.
Aschenbrenner pointed out that there will be a total of six resident advisers working in Pacelli Hall with two peer ministers as well. This grouping of students will allow for a support system to be created in the residence hall where students can seek help when necessary.
The only residents in Pacelli Hall at the moment are the resident advisers and peer ministers who are currently dorming in the building. This does not mean, however they have no duties to fulfill since the Chinese students have not arrived yet on campus.
Aschenbrenner explained that the role of the resident advisers right now is to rotate duties and work in Pacelli Hall, while also working with the other residence halls who may need help.
The Xavierite
Essentially, the students are splitting time working at Pacelli and other dormitories until Pacelli Hall is fully occupied by the incoming Chinese students.
Upon arrival of the students, the tasks of the resident advisors will be to check in often on the new students and make sure they are not having any trouble adjusting to life, not just in the United States, but also at St. Xavier.
Aschenbrenner hopes to see a community outreach take place where not only will the Chinese students learn something from American culture, but the students on campus learn and take away something from Chinese culture.
As stated by Aschenbrenner, “There can be a mixing of cultures where hopefully both the students on campus and the incoming Chinese students can share aspects of their culture.”
With Pacelli Hall now renovated there is also now an expectation for the residence hall to be used year round so that foreign students who take courses over the summer can stay in a communal space.
The desire is to keep the dormitory into a used space, and keep it a relevant part of the campus that is always occupied or being used to some capacity.
Students on campus have also taken notice of the renovations and believe that the changes to the residence hall is a positive sign.
Current Junior and Computer Science major Patrick Szydlo stated, “I think it is good that we are using the residence hall again, I was beginning to wonder if they were going to tear the building down.”
This positive view of the renovations is a good sign for the campus community and something that Aschenbrenner hopes to continue to see.
For more information on the future foreign exchange students heading to St. Xavier; keep up to date with the news section of The Xavierite for more information.
Jake Alleruzzo
Senior News Editor