The South Hall sun deck remains closed this week, leaving students locked out of what some residents consider one of the dorm’s best features.
Trezeves Bridgewater, the residence life coordinator (RLC) for South Hall, said the deck is an outdoor space that closes during the winter months because of inclement weather. In an emailed statement, Bridgewater said recent conditions created safety concerns and that the closure is typical for this time of year.
“The South Hall sun deck is a seasonal outdoor space and is currently closed due to freezing temperatures, ice and snow,” Bridgewater said. She added the deck is expected to reopen once normal temperatures return.
Some students, however, question that explanation. The deck remained open during a snowstorm in early December, but has been closed despite recent weather consistently reaching about 40 degrees and sunny.
The closure followed an incident hours before in which the RLC found students smoking weed and cigarettes on the deck during the middle of the day, according to multiple South Hall residents. Bridgewater did not reference the incident in her statement and declined an interview this week, citing illness.
One South Hall resident who asked not to be named because they were present during the incident said the deck was a popular space for all sorts of activities, from homework to more illicit ones, before it closed.
“It was a magical place,” the student said. “People went there to hang out, study or just exist outside for a bit.”
Colorado’s unpredictable weather often complicates outdoor spaces, especially in winter. According to college policy, residential life staff may close common areas if they pose safety risks.
For now, students will have to wait out the winter and the fallout as the deck remains closed.