7 Reasons Why Josephine-Louise Hall Is Awesome! (in no particular order)

Guest blogger: Alex Williams

Josephine Louise Hall, affectionately called JL (or jail, depending on your articulation), is an all-girls dorm on the Newcomb side of campus. Newcomb College was originally a women’s college before it became a part of Tulane University, and JL was its dorm. More than 1/3 of the incoming freshman female population is placed here every year, and not everyone is placed there by choice (myself included). I was really disappointed initially, because I’d heard stories about how boring it was to live there. I experienced the exact opposite when I got here, though, and now I want everyone to know how great it is.

1.  THE ROOMS ARE HUGE. Without exaggeration, JL has the second biggest rooms available to freshmen behind Wall Residential College. Pretty sweet since you don’t even have to pay extra for it. Check out this mini-tour video I made on move in day! 
2.  There’s an awesome quad right outside for sunbathing or studying! Just be wary of kids or dogs playing. No one wants to have their Chemistry homework messed up by a kid too engrossed in a game of tag to pay attention.
3.  It’s really close to Newcomb Hall and campus nightlife. Many freshman English and foreign language classes are held in Newcomb Hall, and it’s really convenient to wake up 10 minutes before class and still make it on time. It is also bordered by Broadway St., which is where Greek Row and The Boot (the best college bar in the country) are located.
4.  The closets are huge! Every other dorm has wardrobe style or small in-wall closets, but the closets in JL are definitely big enough to double as storage space for the things that can’t fit under your bed.



There’s a ton of wall space for hanging stuff up, too!



5.  There are sinks in the room. That way, you can brush your teeth and take mirror selfies without walking down the hallway to the bathroom.
6.  Quite possibly the best feature of JL is the grand ballroom on the first floor. It’s mainly used as a study space, but is also where we hold our dorm programs. My favorites so far have been our Halloween party featuring Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, a free dessert and coffee mixer sponsored by the JL community government, and a free gumbo dinner sponsored by the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

   

   
   Who doesn’t love free food? Especially homemade gumbo.

7.  The sisterly feel. This may sound cheesy, but JL is a really unique part of campus. JL has a reputation for being an unsocial dorm, but that didn’t happen with us. The girls here bond so well, it’s almost like being in a sorority. There’s no boys to impress, so the entire dorm has a more relaxed feel. On my floor, it’s not uncommon to see spontaneous group discussions happening in the middle of the hallway, just because 2 girls stopped to talk to each other. Sometimes, we go out together to events or parties as a floor, and it’s a really unique bonding experience that none of my friends in other dorms have experienced. 





This is a goal board my RA made. There’s a bunch of different questions, and it’s really cool to see what the other girls on the floor want to accomplish.

So there you have it! Even if JL isn’t at the top of your list, keep these things in mind in case you end up as one of the new JL residents next year ;D

Choosing (and loving) Your Freshman Dorm

Guest blogger: Laura Manning

Your freshman dorm is one of the first major choices you make as an incoming student at Tulane, and arguably one of the most important. The options seem nearly endless, with six freshmen housing options and countless different combinations within those six buildings. Here are some general tips that I wish someone had told me before making my freshman commitment!

1. Don’t rely on pictures from the housing website. I spent hours and hours agonizing over the handful of images of each dorm, and looking at their floor plans. Totally not worth it! Many of those pictures are outdated, and fail to take into account your personal style, which will make any dorm room seem more “homey” than stock photos of boring staples.
2. Don’t go random. Luckily I found a wonderful roommate on Facebook and ended up having a great year living with her in Sharp. Many of my friends were not quite as lucky. Tulane offers many services to help you match up with someone based on living preferences. Use them.
3. Know that the decision doesn’t have to be permanent. Sometimes students just aren’t meant to live together, and that’s okay. Housing understands, and will work to help you find a situation that you’re comfortable with. Knowing that back up exists in case things go wrong is so relieving. 
4. Buy a mattress “topper”. Trust me. There is only so much comfort that can be achieved from a twin mattress without box springs. Investing in a mattress topper is a purchase you won’t regret… and can use again in your sophomore year dorm. Many students opt for egg crate foam or down filled additions.

5. Keep an open mind. Your dorm will ultimately be what you make of it. Bring comforting items from home, picture frames, favorite blankets, and whatever else it takes to make you feel relaxed in a new space. No dorm will look perfect when you open that door for the first time, but with a few welcoming touches, it will quickly become a place that you can truly call “home”.

The dorms offer a wide variety of spaces designed for pretty much any personality. Whether you choose the traditional route of Monroe, Sharp, or Butler, or opt for a women-only experience in JL, joining a Residential College in Wall, or a wellness community in Paterson, there will be myriad options for you to deliberate between. Each dorm has its own individual personality, and it is ultimately up to you to embrace the lifestyle you will adopt while living there!