An RA sits in the lobby of the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, keeping watch on students. Photo by Taylor Sanger/The Minaret
The Howard Johnson Hotel may as well be called the Howard Johnson Residence Hall because it is now filled to capacity with all University of Tampa students. In previous years, UT has filled up several floors of the Howard Johnson, but a few were always left over for regular hotel guests to occupy. The Howard Johnson has had to enact some changes to make the hotel a student only building. According to Krystal R. Schofield, the Associate Dean of Students, the Howard Johnson added a second laundry room, an updated fitness center, converted the majority of the second floor into sleeping quarters and renovated the student lounge on the first floor.
Freshman communication major, Valerie Lara says she feels comfortable living in the Howard Johnson as opposed to a residence hall.
“Personally, I do feel like I live in a dorm. When you move in the room totally becomes a personalized dorm and since the floor is filled with other kids you forget that you’re in a hotel.” Lara said.
Now that there aren’t any non-students residing in the hotel, Schofield said that more security was put in place to monitor students entering and leaving, similar to an on campus residence hall.
“Additional UT Campus Safety and hotel security were added to monitor who goes up in the elevators, and Howard Johnson staff also installed video surveillance covering all entry and exit points to the building.” Schofield said, “The RAs also sit duty in the lobby to keep a better eye on the comings and goings of the students and their guests.”
Schofield also commented that she was not aware of any cleaning or regular staff changes that took place in the transition.
“The rooms are cleaned twice a week per our contract with the Howard Johnson. I am unaware of any changes in staffing. We believe there is proper staff and personnel in place to maintain quality customer service to our students,” she said.
Schofield stated that the Howard Johnson is not being drastically affected financially and “is being compensated according to the contract executed between the University and their management.”
Because of the changes made to the Howard Johnson this year, Lara does not feel that she is living in a hotel.
“The only thing that reminds me that I live in a hotel is the fact that I have to take a shuttle to get to campus.” She said, “If there were non-students in other floors then I’d definitely feel like an intruder. It’d be a constant reminder that I’m not in a dorm and I’d feel less like a college student.”
Sophomore marine biology major Chardene Williams agrees that she would have felt more at home in the Howard Johnson last year if it had been filled with students.
“I would always see random people in the elevators and around the lobby and I didn’t like it,” Williams said. “It really felt like I was on vacation instead of at college and it made it hard to adjust my freshman year.”
Freshman Taylor Orent doesn’t think that strangers would make her feel less at home.
“I feel like I’m living in a dorm,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind if there were non-students staying here.”
Another aspect about the Howard Johnson that has not been considered is the adjacent restaurant.
“It’s too early to tell how UT’s expanded occupancy of the Howard Johnson will affect the restaurant. The restaurant is still open for business.” Schofield said.
Loading ...
