Kayley Rapp, Campus Carrier deputy news editor

The Ford Complex, which has historically been all female, welcomed male students to Clara at the beginning of the semester.

“I lived up at East Mary last year, and I don’t think it’s changed really all that much,” East Mary RA Kristen Karrh said. “There’s kind of a different atmosphere up here now that we have guys, and some girls are a little uneasy about it. The guys are really cool, and I like seeing them play out in the courtyard. I feel like they make everyone feel proud to be at Ford. It’s new. It’s exciting.”

Clara RA Blake Hudson said Ford’s new housing plan continues to be successful.

“There have been no real issues so far. Generally having a hall full of guys will be different than having a hall full of girls. Guys treat it differently,” Hudson said.

The only problem mentioned by Karrh, however, remained with some girls in West Mary changing in front of open windows. As women, not men, used to live in Clara, many female students never worried about people seeing them indecent.

Freshman Nathan Mennen said Clara’s male students have gained a sense of community.“Everyone here is super friendly, and there is a good connection between all of us, especially since we are in the same boat of having to walk all the way down to main campus,” said Mennen

 New male housing at Ford does bring opportunities to certain male students. Male athletes who practice on the baseball field may be housed closer to practice, and music majors will remain close to their instrument’s home.

Parker Clavijo, a RA at Clara, said he had doubts about Ford becoming a co-educational dorm. After some time, however, the idea grew on him.

“I liked the idea of starting a new culture up here. I want to make Ford a part of campus people want to be at. At first it was weird, but I feel like we transitioned well. It feels like home now,” Clavijo said.