ALVARO YEPES / Scroll
A view of the front of the Beehive Manor complex, in Rexburg. The complex will officially become men’s housing starting summer semester 2006 and will be renamed Viking Village.

Girls vs. boys: Beehive Manor becomes Viking Village

Amber Meyers MEY04001@BYUI.EDU Special Sections Asst. Editor

Women will soon have the “chastity door” used against them as Beehive Manor changes to Viking Village, men’s housing, at the beginning of summer semester.

“The owner made the decision to switch from girls to guys,” said Stephanie Harrison, Beehive Manor manager. “He believes occupancy will rise if we make the switch.”

Men’s housing is currently filled more than women’s housing.

This semester there were a total of 3,842 beds available for men and 6,438 for women, said Doug Sorensen, assistant housing director at BYU-Idaho.

With the married students who live in single housing, there are 970 beds that remain empty for the women and 393 beds for the men.

If there were no married students living in the singles housing, there would be 1202 empty beds for women and 465 for men, Sorensen said.

The change of Beehive Manor to men’s housing brings many mixed feelings from both guys and girls.

“I think that it is too spacious for boys,” said Linda Lee Erickson, a sophomore from Post Falls, Idaho.

Her feelings are shared by many girls as they wonder what boys need with a large vanity and two bathrooms.

However, many boys appreciate the larger cooking and living areas.

“I think that it is great news for the guys to obtain cooking apartments,” said Jason Ray, a freshman from Hornersville, Miss.

Along with the larger rooms, boys will also receive new 27-inch TVs, DVD players, two new gas grills, a hot tub and various repairs including new paint, Harrison said.

“I think they are going to be awesome apartments,” said Brett Mattison, a senior from Del Rio, Texas. “I’d want to move in.”

There is one problem many boys have pointed out.

“The only thing I wonder about is where all the girls will go,” Ray said.

Most girls aren’t too stressed because of the time they have to find new housing.

“I’m honestly not that worried about finding a place to live because there are plenty of options around,” said Kristi Soelburg, a freshman from Payette, Idaho.

Many girls like Soelburg are also not worried because summer is their off track and they don’t have to worry about new housing until next fall.

In fact, La Jolla apartments sent pamphlets to all Beehive Manor residents offering housing at the Beehive Manor rates shortly after the news came out.

Viking Village apartments will still hold six boys per apartment, if filled to complete occupancy.

The managers are not sure if married couples who currently live in the complex will still be able to live there, Harrison said.

The price of the fall/winter track will remain at $895, but the summer semester will drop to $525. Also, free unlimited long distance will still be available.

Other apartments that have decided to make the change from women’s housing to men’s are Apple Tree and West Park apartments.

As far as any new buildings being built for housing, there are none currently in the works.

“There are no other buildings in the planning stage,” Sorensen said. “Only other possibility is on campus, Rigby Hall has been out of the market and could possibly come back on [as men’s housing].”