By Cavan Burns | Reporter
When Baylor started this school year with the largest freshman class ever, the school adapted quickly with the establishment of Baylor Cityside. While students of Cityside shared their initial thoughts earlier in the semester, they have now had some time to establish some roots not only at Cityside but also in Waco.
“It’s almost too nice here,” California freshman Russell Morrell said.
Russell Morrell, a music education major, said he had originally planned on living in Heritage House because that is where most people with his and similar majors live. Morrell, who currently has one roommate, said he was excited when he learned he was going to be living in Cityside.
Since Cityside lacks common areas, Morrell said students typically hang out in the lobby, alongside the desk employees.
“The desk worker is not a Baylor employee,” Morrell said. “They are a Marriott employee, and they’re really nice.”
However, Morrell said it is mildly inconvenient trying to get to places.
“[The shuttle] is pretty consistent, but coordinating the time is still annoying,” Arlington freshman Brett Green said. “If I need to be somewhere at this time, and they’re not there or they’re not coming at this time, it can suck.”
Similar to Morrell, Green said Cityside was not his first choice. Green said he has no roommates, so he gets the modified hotel room all to himself.
“I didn’t plan on it … originally, I was in South Russell,” Green said.
While Cityside is not exactly near any dining halls, Green said he visits the gas station next to the hotel almost every day.
Both Morrell and Green said they have not been told if they will be living in Cityside next semester.
“There’s always word … that we’re going to get moved, but I don’t think we’re going to be,” Morrell said.
Green said students had a meeting at the beginning of the year and were told that they would most likely be living at Cityside for the entire school year but that it wasn’t guaranteed.
There are currently about 150 students in Cityside. For more information on Baylor Cityside, you can visit its web page.
“Since [Cityside] is nice, you kind of miss out on the sucky dorm experience,” Morrell said.
