Months after moving into Bay Vista Housing, Michelle Araujo remains unsatisfied with the living conditions.

“Washing machines have been out of order, dirty air conditioners have gotten people sick, kitchen faucets have produced dirty water, and doors really need to be repainted,” said Araujo, a freshman psychology major.

Due to the lack of care for BVH, according to its residents, Residential Life and the Student Government Association will collaborate to provide a more accommodating view and lifestyle for students. Steps are being taken to satisfy the needs of the current residents, including the tasks of repainting and landscaping.

Stobs Brothers Construction Co. will be in charge of remodeling the dorms. They have been chosen because they have done previous projects with the University, including the plumbing and waterproofing of the University Park Towers, and also because they are less expensive than Turner Construction Company.

The upgrades are scheduled to begin at the end of the spring semester and will last 13 weeks, according to James Wassenaar, executive director of Student Affairs Operations and Auxiliary Services. The exterior surface of the dorms will be patched, repaired and painted.

“The dorms haven’t been repainted since I’ve been here,” said Ryan Jagessar, senior business major who has been a resident of the dorms for four years.

The dorms were last painted in 2004, according to Wassenaar. Expect a cream and terracotta to replace the pink and pale orange.

“There is usually a five to six year cycle on the paint,” said Wassenaar. “We are trying to go with a color that would look well over time and throughout the weather changes."

Aside from the faded paint on the outside of the building, some residents have been complaining about the wear and tear of the dorms and they would also like to see them redone.

"I’ve only been here for a semester and a half and my toilet broke twice, the tile on the side of the bathroom’s shower has caved in, and rain water from the outside leaks into my living room through the front door,” said Christian Grannum, freshman economics major.

The most recent improvement done to the dorms is the repaving of the second floor patio area and parking lot. There were also changes in the laundry room; however, they did not benefit the students who used it, according to Jagessar.

“The laundry room used to have a wall full of washers and dryers and cost $0.75 to use, but now there are only nine washers and 12 dryers and the price went up to $1,” said Jagessar. “That’s not enough appliances for the 200 plus students we have here.”

Though there are problems with the framework of the dorms, no plan exists for reconstruction at this time, according to Wassenaar.

“We are in debt until 2016,” Wassenaar said. “Any changes will take three to four months of planning, and any thoughts of remodeling or tearing down won’t take place until four to six years.”

However, indoor changes to furniture such as new refrigerators, appliances and cabinets will take place during the summer, according to Wassenaar. Once the painting is done, planters will come in to finish the landscaping. The types of plants to be gardened are yet to be determined.

For Rich Morales who is a Bay Vista resident, though, problems run deeper than decoration.

“I really don’t have any problems with the color or furnishing of the dorms,” said Morales, a senior sociology and anthropology major. “I just don’t like the too-expensive vending machines and the random inspections that are given because they invade our privacy.”

Residential Life, which is responsible for the everyday operations of the residence halls, promoting the academic and personal success of students living in the the dorms through services, programs and activities, along with SGA, is sponsoring the budget for the upgrade of the dorms. It could also provide the funds necessary to get a new TV in the dorm’s community room.

The cost of the upgrading is approximately half a million dollars, according to Wassenaar.

The changes can't come fast enough for junior Amber Miller, a Bay Vista resident.

“I would enjoy seeing a pingpong table, a pinball machine and a new foosball table in the community room,” said Miller, a hospitality management and tourism major. “There should also be Wi-Fi all over the dorms.”

The Division of Student Affairs is responsible for making the campus more suitable and enjoyable for the resident students, according to Wassenaar. They have provided funds for the cafe, food court and the recreation of the swimming pool.

“We will make sure that there will be a thorough furnishment of the dorms,” said Wassenaar.