If you have gone to class in the last four weeks, you would have noticed that Van Peursem Hall looks different. The first floor of VPH has been renovated and has changed quite a bit. The updated classrooms offer a sleeker, modern aesthetic to the building. They are fairly maneuverable, which helps teachers and students get into groups easily and efficiently. The updated classrooms also offer more outlets and ports for computer use. The addition of these outlets has made it both easier and harder to pay attention in class, as students can charge both computers and cell phones. When asked what he thought about the classrooms, Jonah Van Dyke said, “Yep, good.” a man of many words., Jonah Van Dyke’s roommate, Tyson Braunschweig, doesn’t mind the renovations but thinks the Biblical and Theological Studies Suite has been severely downgraded. In a conversation with Braunschweig, he said, “I feel that the lighting, wall and carpet choice took what was formerly a lively space, one that was warm and comfortable, and turned it into what feels like a hospital hallway.” The old BTS Suite had a feeling to it that was hard to describe as anything but nostalgic. The old classrooms felt like the ones a lot of people had in their high school. Despite their difficulties, the old rooms were nostalgic and were more what students are used to from their high school day. A random simultaneous gripe and compliment has to do with the new study area in front of the new classrooms. The new study area was complemented by some students as they like that there is more room to study and the new vending machine locations make the other entrance more lively. Between the new study area, new classrooms, and the new BTS Suite, there are new places in VPH that will either become helpful study areas, or new social areas. The new classrooms can help people learn. The layouts and tables are what most teachers would like for their classes. “I like the new walls.” says one anonymous source. “The old paint made the classrooms feel drab and dreary. I like the color. It adds to the overall feeling of the class.” The whole front end of VPH is completely new. Its new updates are fun and slightly divisive, but all in all, the campus is lucky to have it, because incoming and new freshmen get to enjoy new class rooms that are really nice.
