When rooming selection began, my three roommates and I were, well, clueless. None of us had older siblings that attended Ohio University and none of us really had any close friends that went there either. So when it came time to choosing a dorm, we didn’t exactly know what was best. Yes, we heard about the new dorms being built on South Green, but we didn’t have our hopes up in actually claiming one as our own. So when it came down to it, we chose Mackinnon. Completely and totally unaware of the location, appearance and most importantly, the reputation.

I can honestly say I wouldn’t have wanted to live in any other dorm my freshman year. Being apart of Mackinnon, being apart of the Front Four, was truly a blessing my roommates and I got to share our first year at OU. The few months before freshmen year began people would ask me what residence hall I was living in, I’d reply with Mackinnon, and then they’d say something like “Omg! I heard that dorm is so much fun!” or “Lucky, you’re in the front four!” I was always told that all of South Green was known as “Dirty South,” so I just considered Mackinnon a part of that. Fortunately, though, the Front Four is pretty much separate from the rest of “Dirty South.” I don’t necessarily know why, considering Mackinnon definitely wasn’t anything glamorous or special like all of the new dorms, but it just gave you that sense of feeling at home. And that’s exactly what you need your first year away at school.

There’s just something about living in the Front Four that brings you that much closer to your other residents. I can’t say this is a fact, because I guess I am kind of biased, but I had friends living on East and West Green that truly just didn’t have as an enjoyable time as my roommates and I did. South Green hosts many programs from little festivals, to little concerts to even volleyball tournaments (because we have volleyball nets right in our area!) We’re also blessed with Nelson Dining Hall just feet away from our doors.

Living on South Green, particularly in the Front Four, definitely has shaped my views on OU. Sure, our walks to classes weren’t the best, about 10 to 15 minutes to each one, but we’d get to walk back down Morton every day and take in the beautiful landscapes of Ohio University. Yeah, you most likely are huffing and puffing from all the humidity, but there has never been a moment that I haven’t thought to myself at least once on my way to class that OU wasn’t beautiful. And South Green really portrays that.

Any incoming freshman, if you find yourselves in Mackinnon or any other hall in the Front Four, don’t dwell on the fact that you’re not in the new dorms that are only feet away. But instead, be proud of your residence hall. The Front Four is a legacy at OU and I’m happy to have taken part of it.