It's been three months since students moved into the brand new University Village at Sweethome, and many are still voicing complaints of poor Internet connections, vandalism and overall sub-par construction.
The apartment complex, which has been heavily advertised as an oasis of sorts, is complete with tanning beds and a movie theater. Still, some of the students who live there say it's anything but.
Mike Denning, a junior communication major, likes his current living situation better than the dorms but feels it's still lacking.
"I like it compared to the dorms, but overall, no, I don't like it," Denning said. "It seems as though the whole place was thrown up too quickly to make deadline."
Another common complaint is poor Internet connections. Residents complain that the connection lags, often kicks them off or is not working whatsoever, which could create monumental problems for students in the crunch before finals.
"Internet has been a constant issue this semester. (It's) not reliable. They say they have wireless, but my roommate can't connect for a long period of time," said Ryan Wool, a senior communication major. "We're actually having problems right now. Couldn't have come at a worse time with finals and whatnot."
Another issue is limited parking availability and a poor busing system.
Kimberly Ferrari, a sophomore business major, said she hates how if she misses the bus, she has to wait another 15 minutes until the next one comes. Many students also said they believe the complex's construction was rushed, resulting in a more frequent need for maintenance.
"The appliances are kind of cheap and break down all the time," Denning said. "I remember when I moved in, everyone had a laundry list of problems."
Wool said little details like constantly broken furniture make the living situation frustrating.
"You can tell my roommate's door doesn't lock. My chair has a screw loose in it so I constantly have to screw it in day after day. We have spray paint on our wood floor in the kitchen," he said.
There have also been frequent reports of vandalism, especially on weekends, with implications that alcohol plays a role. Beer cans and trash can be seen scattered around the premises, food is smeared on some of the complex's walls and windows have been broken.
On the other hand, there are residents that rave about the apartments and the community center. These students said they enjoy a variety of amenities, such as tanning beds, a gym, a movie theater, pool tables and free printing services in the business office.
"I absolutely love living here," said Melissa Guarriello, a junior early childhood education major. "I enjoy using all the amenities that the community center has to offer. Plus the maintenance is always extremely helpful and if I ever have a problem it is fixed immediately."
Shaun Spellman, a junior business administration major, agreed and said he enjoys the added privacy that comes with having an apartment.
"I like the privacy I have. As far as having my own room and not sharing a bathroom with 15 other guys like in the dorms, (it's) nice," he said.
And while some students do enjoy their living situation at Sweethome, many said they won't be returning next year due to an increase in rent.
"All in all, there are bound to be problems at any new apartment complex," Spellman said. "I take everything in stride. I'm enjoying living here this year but won't be back next year because of increased rent."
"All in all it's not worth the money, and you can take that to the bank," Denning added. "It is what it is, pretty on paper."
Sweethome officials declined to comment.
