Michelle Meisch and Andrea Fulcher were excited to move into the new Hawthorn apartments this fall, expecting not only a good location, but also many amenities the new facility said it would offer.

But the roommates said they were a little disappointed when they learned that they would be housed in a handicapped-accessible facility – something they said they weren’t told until this fall.

Meisch, junior in economics, said there are several differences between a regular apartment and a handicapped-accessible one.

“First of all, there is no kitchen island,” she said. “There’s no storage closet, and there’s little space. We expected some cupboard space, too.”

Fulcher, junior in management information systems, said the apartment is a little crowded.

“There are two drawers in the bathroom for four girls,” she said.

Kate Bruns, spokesperson for the Department of Residence, said she realizes the bathrooms in the handicapped-accessible apartments are a little smaller. However, she said, there are some benefits to living in such an apartment.

“The washer and dryer are side by side, which some students are really excited about,” she said. “The refrigerator and freezer are side by side instead of on top of the other, and the shower is larger with a fold-down bench. Basically, these things are bigger and better.”

Meisch said she felt that those items were nice, but unnecessary.

“There’s a larger laundry room, but it’s wasted space,” she said.

Bruns said the university had no say in the decision to build the handicapped-accessible apartments.

“Because of [American with Disabilities Act] specifications, we had to build one in every apartment,” she said.

Of the residents in the 19 handicapped-accessible apartments at Hawthorn, only four groups have complained, Bruns said.

“The number of students who are upset is small,” she said. “We are doing what we can to make the modifications they want.”

The Department of Residence began installing removable kitchen islands in every handicapped-accessible apartment this week. Other modifications will be made according to the students’ individual requests, Bruns said.

One way Fulcher felt she could be compensated is to be reimbursed for shelving she and her roommates have purchased.

“I think they should pay for storage facilities, and any shelving, within reason, that we buy,” she said.

Meisch said the two had to shell out money they couldn’t afford to spend on the extra storage.

“We’re on a budget and can’t go out and buy shelving,” she said. “Granted, it may only be $15, but that’s still something we shouldn’t have to buy.”

Meisch and Fulcher said they are not angry with the university, and they are happy they can afford to live at Hawthorn.

“But the price is steep,” Meisch said. “We’re paying the same price as other people who get all the amenities. There are a lot of places we could live that are significantly less, and I understand that we’re paying for location, but there’s just the expectation of getting what you’re paying for. We just want to be compensated for what we were expecting.”

Bruns said unsatisfied students can move out when more apartments are completed in October and November.

“When you open up a new community, it’s hard to accommodate and make everyone happy,” she said. “We’re doing what we can.”