Residence Life’s removal of the full-sized beds from select apartment buildings in the Hillside complex over the summer began a series of rumors for the switch.
One of the more popular ones being to prevent sex between students in the complex.
“We heard that rumor last spring and it is absolutely not the reason why we switched them,” said Rebekah Stewart, assistant director of residence life.
The real reason the beds were switched was because Residence Life is updating all of the facilities’ furniture to make it easier to replace, said Stewart.
Belmont donated the full sized beds to both Sweet Sleep, a Belmont University Service Learning Partner, and to victims of the May 2013 Oklahoma tornado, said Stewart.
Residence Life received $80,000 from a percentage of tuition bills and donations given to the Division of Student Affairs in order to exchange the 230 beds in the Hillside complex, said Stewart.
The new, smaller beds are not a favorite among the some of the students.
“We have definitely had some people who prefer a bigger bed from Hillside specifically, but at the same time, that has been the biggest concern,” said Stewart.
Students, however, still believe the beds were switched to prevent overnight visits between the opposite sexes.
“They switched them so people wouldn’t sleep together,” said Catherine Hagedorn, a junior mass communication major.
The switch has led to a greater source of frustration for students going beyond not having a larger bed. It’s about the idea of having a bigger bed means being an adult.
“Part of living in an apartment is being able to have a little freedom and feel like an adult,” Hagedorn said. “I don’t feel like an adult in a small, tiny bed.”
Another issue some students are having with the exchange is the lack of space on the actual bed.
“I personally have a queen back home, so I’m more used to having a bigger bed,” said Christine Locke, a junior audio/video production major. “I also use my bed for different purposes besides sleeping, so having that full size I was able to have clothing on it along with having room to lie out and watch TV.”
While there are students against the switch, other students seem to be OK with it.
“I don’t see why people would complain about the beds,” said Jess Schultz, a junior music business major. “There was nothing good about them, except that they were bigger.”
Students unhappy with the twin beds can’t buy a new bed because of the standards set by the fire marshal, said Stewart. Only students taller than 7 feet can get another Belmont approved bed, which is an XXL twin size.
“The biggest reason for us was the ease of use from the Residence Life perspective and better service to the students as far as replacements and, also, they’re brand new beds,” Stewart said. “The beds that were in there were at the end of their life.”