I don't think you can call the substandard conditions of company 5's housing rumors when parents are getting word straight from their DS on how disgusting the place is. Are they stuck there for the year? Since this dorm is so bad no DS should have to endure this for a full year and everyone should be rotated thru -
Okay, now I feel a need to weigh in on this.
Rogers was always considered the "best" of the old barracks, with Cleveland not too far behind.
Rogers Hall (where I'm guessing 5th Co is being berthed) was nowhere near as bad as Murphy was before it was redone. Not even close. I lived in both buildings and Rogers was much cleaner, had better furniture and much less problems with things like internet connections and the heads/showers. There is a reason it was held out as being the last building to be remodeled (along with Cleveland which has been Band Co. for as long as I know) because it is/was in the best shape of the "old" barracks.
Palmer was even worse and I hear Jones Hall was the worst of the worst, which led to the initial closing and renovation of each barracks one by one. That's why there were only five companies until now, because there was always one barracks closed for remodeling. Since the powers that be have determined that Cleveland and Rogers are good enough for now (and other structures like Mallory Pier need immediate attention), they put off the rest of the barracks remodel and the availability of six barracks has now allowed for six companies again. Hence, the raise in appointees in the class of 2014.
Trust me, I lived in the old barracks for 2 years before being one of the lucky ones (First Company) to move into a newly redone Palmer Hall. Murphy literally was falling apart and was justifiably redone before the last two buildings. Plenty of my classmates did all four years in either Rogers or Cleveland. Hundreds of mids before them did the same thing. It can be depressing and inconvenient, but in no way dangerous. Unless it's really gone downhill in just one year, I wouldn't worry about it.
With few exceptions, company placement is random. They shouldn't rotate mids through the barracks because (aside from the logistics and hassle of moving buildings every few weeks), it helps you learn the values of maintaining the environment in which you live - just like being on an older ship or tug. It may be old, dilapidated, unsightly and grimy - but it's the only thing keeping you in and the water out. You learn to love it.
P.S. - One thing we did miss about the old barracks was that there it was much easier to keep your door open and there was much more of a "family" atmosphere and easy socializing. In the new buildings, the doors all have hydraulic closers and code pads to unlock them. Feels much more like an apartment building. You can block your door open, but the older feeling was just never there like it was in the old barracks with regular doors.
P.P.S. - Also, parents, no offense, but your DS/DD is fresh out of Indoc at a place they've only been at for two weeks and a few days. I know at this point I was venting, but also had little idea what I was talking about (probably was exaggerating too). I would like to believe that you can trust the KP leadership (both official and midshipman) that no one is actually being placed in harm's way.
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