DeVry dormitory houses diverse student population

FREMONT -- The student population on DeVry Universitys Fremontcampus is becoming more geographically diverse now that a new dorm isoffering much-needed housing and attracting students from as far awayas the United Arab

Emirates, Germany and New York.

The 300-bed dorm, named Taylor Hall in honor of Ron Taylor, theCEO of DeVry Inc. and

a co-founder of the Keller Graduate School of Management, openedin June and is the first residence hall on any of DeVry Universitys78 campuses.

Ben Elias, dean of business affairs for DeVry Fremont, said it wasbuilt to help students find affordable and convenient housing in thehigh-priced Bay Area. Students from other local colleges can applyfor a room, as well.

For $825 a month, students receive half of a double room with abathroom, two meals a day in the dorm food court, high-speed Internetaccess, cable and free local phone calls from their room. Singles are$1,100 per month.

The rooms are furnished, so basically all (students) have to bringare their clothes and a toothbrush, Elias said.

The three-story building was quiet on a recent school day, with afew students ducking in and out of their rooms, working in thecomputer lab and checking their mail. The food court was busier, asstudents lined up to eat lunch with friends.

Jason Robbins, an 18-year-old freshman from Visalia, a five-hourdrive from DeVry Fremont, said he eats most of his meals in the dormbecause he doesnt have a car. He likes the Philly cheese steaks best.

I was going to come here regardless, because I have family nearhere, said Robbins, whose roommate is from Las Vegas.

(The new dorm) just helped out a lot.

Dave Gutierrez of San Francisco said that if the dorm not beenbuilt, he probably would have commuted by car from home.

That would be much more of a hassle, he said.

Before Taylor Hall opened, about 60 DeVry students lived in a dormat California State East Bay in Hayward. It took 20 minutes to driveto campus.

This is like a five-star place compared to there, said DanielleGillingwater, a student who used to live in the Cal State dorm.

And you have a bathtub, she said. I really want to take a bath. Ijust havent done it yet.

The dorm also includes laundry facilities, a fitness center, avideo game and pool room and a lounge with a big-screen television.On weeknights and weekends, students tend to hang out together, oftenventuring to the Starbucks in Newark, residential adviser Matt Ganjasaid.

In August, Taylor Hall hosted a talent show, a talk with aprofessor, a movie night, a pool tournament and a touch footballgame.

Its really turning into a family, Ganja said. The community hereis really strong, really friendly.

For more information, visit http://www.taylorhall.net.

Staff writer Grace Rauh covers education. She can be reached at(510) 353-7010 or grauh@angnewspapers-

.com.