UH-Manoa builds own 'town'

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

"We can't bring the town to us," says University of Hawai'i interim housing director Margit Misangyi Watts, "so we've got to create the town."

By the time fall classes begin in late August, Watts expects to be up and running with seven of eight M Town "hot spots," including: a new cafe; a 24-hour computer lab and study center; a town square; a park with barbecue grills; an improved general store; a central post office; a sustainable garden and teahouse; and an enlarged fitness center.

A 24-hour "Borders-style" library with multiple services including wireless computer seating, conversation nooks and food-to-go will take longer, but perhaps be ready by next spring. The old Gateway Hall cafeteria where it's scheduled to be housed needs roof repairs first.

Students like the M Town concept.

"It's brilliant," says 30-year-old graduate student Omar Williams, a dorm residential adviser and one of those responsible for handling student complaints and problems now.

"This is what they gripe about all the time. Nothing to do. Nothing open. The computer lab closes at a certain time. These are some of the things they've been bringing up since I've been here," Williams said.

Watts has spent the past few weeks meeting with student groups to get feedback on her plans to revitalize buildings and spaces in need of repairs, maintenance and modernization. While the buildings require around $37 million for complete repairs, Watts believes M Town will forge a vibrant community as longer-lasting repairs are under way.

"We've got to do our part first," she said, "provide nice spaces, comfortable beds, a clean and sanitary environment and lots of options for food, study and entertainment."

As part of that promise, rooms in Gateway Hall will be completely renovated for fall, with new beds, desks and dressers, bathroom fixtures and paint, and virtually all other dorm mattresses will be new, too, she said.

Then she'll launch Part 2 of M Town by expecting dorm students to do their part.

Beginning in fall 2005, she hopes to tap the talents and skills of all dorm residents by asking each to contribute 10 hours a semester of their time and talent to enrich life in M Town. That could even include students taking a much larger role in the dorm judicial system.

"Maybe if you're a surfer dude you can take some kids from the Mainland to the beach to surf," she said. "If you dance hula, maybe you can spend your time teaching. ... Everyone will be responsible for maintaining their town."

"This could be a hopping place. If you have 3,000 students contributing their expertise, think how rich and vibrant M Town can be," said Watts, tallying up the possibilities with 30,000 student-hours of tutoring, teaching, playing music, helping out in the library, dancing, training others in PowerPoint, gardening and dozens of other things.

That phase won't be launched until students have had time to define and refine her concepts, and work out the logistics, she said.

However, there has been opposition to this part, with some of the student government officials who have been briefed wondering whether the "community service" component should be voluntary, not mandatory.

"I'm glad she's trying to make an effort to revitalize the housing, but there's a lot of concern from students about the required community service hours," said Andrew Ogata, chairman of the student government's student affairs committee.

"If you make it optional the people who really do want to teach will come out."

But Ogata said that while M Town has "a lot of really good key points" because of the "hot spots" idea, he'd rather the housing office focus on maintenance and repairs first.

"This is a good idea, but it's not going to fix the main maintenance problems," said Ogata. "They don't have money, but they're investing some money in M Town. I think it's important to make students feel they belong, but for students to respect housing, the housing has to be in respectable condition in the first place."

Watts realizes that maintenance does come first — but it needs to be part of a bigger picture, she said.

"How do you create a place where students get what they need but then they respect what they've got?" she said.

"We have to do as much maintenance as possible and offer them as much in the way of service so we create an environment that's really cool to be part of. So we can say, 'We're giving you the town, so now we want you to be part of keeping it a wonderful place to be.'"

Recognition for the time each student contributes to the community will come for every student and be part of each one's resume, she said.

Williams says he likes the giveback part, and thinks it will build "pride" among dorm students. "Especially for the ones leaving home for the first time, it will be a better transition. It will create a better sense of community, and I guess a sense of belonging, and that's what we need here."

Williams feels it could also cut down on crime and vandalism. A lot of times "they're bored," he said. "And this would allow them an outlet, so the energy can be put somewhere else. ... If you feel you belong more, it creates a type of appreciation."

Watts is busy with a multitude of details needed to put the plans into operation, including launching a contest — with a big prize — to create a unified design symbol for each dorm to bring them together visually; putting together a Parents' Association that would serve as a support and networking system for students, particularly those from other places; finalizing plans for a "lounge contest" so students can paint, design and decorate their own student lounges when they check in during August; and finalizing plans for a designated grad student dorm that will pilot the full M Town concept, including running their own judicial and disciplinary system and "ironing out some of the bugs," said Watts.

Other improvements being considered for the housing areas include surveillance cameras, more outdoor lighting, additional student security guards and all-night shuttles between the dorms and Hamilton Library when Hamilton is open 24 hours.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.