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CAPTIONS
Social studying
Nicole Jackson, a first year student from Baltimore, studies in the social room with other students on the cruise ship. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis /November 16, 2011)
Nicole Jackson, a first year student from Baltimore, studies in the social room with other students on the cruise ship. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis /November 16, 2011)
St. Mary's College of Maryland said farewell to the most talked-about dormitory in its history on Sunday when the Sea Voyager, a 286-foot cruise ship, pulled up anchor. The ship, docked beside campus on the St. Mary's River, had housed 240 students since early November.
The students, mostly freshmen and sophomores, were displaced from two residence halls by mold. After an extensive cleaning, those halls have been declared safe to re-enter by CEI, an environmental consulting agency, the college said. Students are expected to move back to their original rooms when they return from winter break in mid-January.
Students generally greeted the displacement with good cheer, saying they would tell the story of their floating dorm for years to come. An alumnus suggested the ship as a way to bring students closer to campus after they were briefly sent to hotels as far as 45 minutes away.
"As we close this chapter in our school's history, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of everyone who helped us with this unique solution," said St. Mary's President Joseph Urgo in a statement.
College officials said the clean-up and ship rental cost a combined $2.5 million.
childs.walker@baltsun.com
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The students, mostly freshmen and sophomores, were displaced from two residence halls by mold. After an extensive cleaning, those halls have been declared safe to re-enter by CEI, an environmental consulting agency, the college said. Students are expected to move back to their original rooms when they return from winter break in mid-January.
"As we close this chapter in our school's history, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of everyone who helped us with this unique solution," said St. Mary's President Joseph Urgo in a statement.
College officials said the clean-up and ship rental cost a combined $2.5 million.
childs.walker@baltsun.com
Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts
