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We've got articles about allsorts - you can write an article yourself if you like, or you can comment on other people's writing
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 David Russell Hall (known as DRH to the
masses) is an unusual place. The online university
guide gives a very cold
description of the place - how many rooms, how many to a floor...
blah, blah... But you want to know what it's like to live
in, don't you?
OK, firstly, a quick
description. It looks like an Eastern Bloc housing
estate. According to legend it was based on a combination
of the following: Swedish / Polish / Utah / mental hospital
/women's prison camp, although I'm not quite sure what purpose
the spire would serve even in a mental hospital! Although
it's not the prettiest of buildings (the photos are very kind),
it was well designed. From each room you can see other windows
(though you can't see in, due to angles and reflections). This is
quite handy for chatting to people out of the window, and you
always know that there's someone else around. Each landing and
bathroom serves four rooms, making them cosy, but not confined.
Apparently people get on better in groups of four.
The set up is fairly simple -
ten "houses", of two buildings each ('upper' and
'lower' sides) with six floors of four rooms each. The
blocks are named after 'famous' Scotsfolk of the area. (find
out more). Spread out
over around 6 acres, they are mostly linked by covered walkways,
although Haldane House is the only one linked directly to the
main building (handy for smokers, as it is linked to the covered
courtyard - one of the only three places to smoke indoors). The
rules have become increasingly strict since the new fire
detection system was introduced. No smoking anywhere but the
"Strachan Suite" cafe bar, TV room and aforementioned
courtyard.
 That said, it's a really nice place to
live for a year. The rooms are fairly small, but there are
no shared rooms, so, unless you have three carloads of stuff,
you'll have plenty of room. The only problem I found was
getting work done - personally, I found the desk was too high to
be comfortable writing on... But, then again, that is such
a good excuse for not doing your tutorial work (it's a dreadful
excuse! -Ed). Hall food is not *so* bad - at
least, in the first few weeks... But they keep repeating
the menu every three weeks or so, you can get a bit sick of it.
All in all, though, it's far better (and cheaper!) than cooking
for yourself, and you can meet some really interesting people
while eating - much more sociable.
There are facilities for you to
cook with, but they are shared amongst 24 people, and
unfortunately the refrigerators are not lockable - anybody, from
any block, is able to get into them. So don't think of
storing alcohol in them - it won't last three minutes. Several
schemes have been introduced to help prevent theft, but residents
have preferred to have a much more sociable hall, where people
can come and go, rather than have safe cheese.
Hall subs last year were
£50. It seems a lot when you walk in the door and they
demand it from you straight away, but it covers a lot:
- Newspapers in the Strachan
Suite (right),
- Two tickets to the Hall
Ball - reputedly the biggest Hall Ball in St
Andrews.
- Digital Sky TV, including
sports, Sky One (Simpsons still very popular) and other
random channels. However, it does *not* have the movie
channels, which is a great pity. Maybe to make up
for it, or maybe because he has too much time, Oli (your
friendly editor - Ed) arranges a weekly video night... or, at least if not weekly,
as often as he can.
- Regular parties throughout
the year, where alcohol and snacks are provided
- Printer services in the
computer room (bring your own paper)
- Damage cover. If there is
any damage to the hall which cannot be accounted for, the
repair bills are footed by your hall subs. But rest
assured that the hall WILL account for most damage!
The Strachan Suite is a lovely
coffee shop which serves wonderful snacks such as gorgeous
Panninis and sandwiches, and not so wonderful, but nonetheless
filling snacks such as pizza and burgers. They also provide tea
and coffee etc to enjoy alongside the papers, (although it is
rumoured it might be closed next year).
A couple of years ago, a brand
new laundry (shown on right) was built on the site, to replace
the out of date machines which were said to eat clothes... Using
the new sparkly machines, it costs £3 for a laundry card, which
will provide 6 credits. (2 credits for a wash, 1 for a dry). The
laundry is protected by CCTV and a code lock.
The computer room is a little
neglected, now that increasing numbers of people have their own
in-room computers (you provide the computer, and for £50 a year
you get an internet connection). There are 4 Macs which are
connected to the net, and 2 which aren't. There is also a
printer, paid for by your hall subs.
David Russell Hall is located
just shy of a mile out of town (20-30 minutes walk to the union),
and about 15-20 minutes walk from the North Haugh (scientist's
territory).
If you wanted to walk from DRH to the Cathedral, it would take
somewhere in the region of 45 to 50 minutes, and a comfortable
pair of trainers. Once you've been in St Andrews for a
couple of weeks and adapted to the "small town frame of
mind", this may seem like a long way, but can lead to some
wonderful drunken experiences when wandering home with your
friends, after a successful Boozeday Tuesday in town. (Not
sure about the time, but perhaps I just walk quickly - Ed).
A new residence is being built
nearby, and will gradually replace DRH. More details can be found
in the foyer.
Posted 13:16, 17th Aug 2002 by
underworlddreams + Oli in section Sinner's Guide
(suggest an article in this category)
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 Posted by barr at 21:04, 9th Oct 2002 |
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new hall
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Posted by Unregistered User G at 12:15, 12th Feb 2003 |
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DRH
DRH has a brilliant atmosphere and is easy to get to know people. You are never short of someone to see or something to do. Its the people that make it the best place to be. The buildings do not really matter. The best place to be for your first year as far as I am concerned (single rooms are an advantage too if you intend to use your first year as most do).
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Posted by Fugaziboy at 13:47, 3rd Jul 2003 |
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Unregisted User G wrote on 12:15, 12th Feb 2003:
DRH has a brilliant atmosphere and is easy to get to know people. You are never short of someone to see or something to do. Its the people that make it the best place to be. The buildings do not really matter. The best place to be for your first year as far as I am concerned (single rooms are an advantage too if you intend to use your first year as most do).
G is so right. I stayed in DRH for 3 years and always had a good time there. It's not the most attractive hall in the world but it has a good attitude in comparison to say New Hall which is totally Anti-social. It's a shame they are knocking it down. Many happy memories... (sob).
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 Posted by Unregistered User Mary at 13:37, 7th Jul 2003 |
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happy?
Hi...I´ve just been offered a room in DRH - do you think I should be happy?
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Posted by Unregistered User Cora at 19:06, 8th Sep 2003 |
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Hall Subs (printing costs)
So, do u mean that after u've paid 50 quid hall subs, u dont have to pay extra for printing things? How ever many u like? Or is there a credit limit? I've just been offered a place at DRH, but after looking at the pictures on the st-and website, i wasnt too impressed, i duuno, the decortion and furnishings just look really old to me, like they have been there since the 80s. Please correct me if i'm wrong. And also, it seems really far away from the town centre, do most ppl who live in DRH use a bike or something? |
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Posted by Unregistered User Cora at 19:15, 8th Sep 2003 |
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Ironing? sinks?
Forgot to mention this in my previous msg, is there a sink + mirror in every room? And are there any ironing facilities or do i have to bring my own iron? And also, does it have bathrooms or shower units? thx for ur time! |
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Posted by Thackary at 19:41, 8th Sep 2003 |
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The hall subs covers the cost of the toner in the printer. You need to provide your own paper though (bear in mind that other people may have run out of paper, so your paper may occasionally be used to print other people's stuff...) The decor might not be up to much, but the hall is not going to last much longer, and it isn't cost effective to redecorate. DRH is only about a mile from the town centre, and half a mile from the North Haugh (science buildings). Some use bikes, some walk. All the rooms have a wash basin and a mirror.
There are both showers and baths in the blocks - each landing (4 rooms) has one or the other, but the next landing is only 6 steps away! |
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Posted by Unregistered User Cora at 21:53, 9th Sep 2003 |
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thx for that, thats really helpful.
But do i have to bring my own iron?
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Posted by Thackary at 11:48, 10th Sep 2003 |
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There are irons provided, but it's probably best to bring your own. You can guarantee that it'll be working... Not sure about ironing boards though I'm afraid |
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 Posted by Unregistered User kezzie at 15:55, 10th Sep 2003 |
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Bikes?
I just got news that I'll be staying in the David Russell Hall and was wondering if there is anywhere that I can keep a bike so that it is secure when I leave it? I'm not bothered about whether it is inside or out, but could you please tell me if there is such a facility available?
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Posted by Unregistered User Kim at 20:46, 17th Sep 2003 |
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living at the DRH
as DRH are so far away from the main town im taking my bike is any1 else?Are there special areas for them?
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Posted by hoopy froodette at 17:56, 5th Feb 2004 |
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Goodbye
Farewell DRH. Rest In Peace, or Pieces... The last inhabitant of Herkless 38.
Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie. |
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Posted by Unregistered User at 14:43, 15th Feb 2004 |
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Just to confirm for any prospective students David Russell Hall has now closed. The buildings have been demolished. At the time of writing (Feb 2004), the University are in the process of rebuilding the site to provide 750 upmarket, en-suite, single study bedrooms in flats of five people, sharing a fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher. Some of the new rooms opened in September 2003 and the full compliment of 750 rooms will come on stream by September 2005. By September 2005, a self-service diner and new reception area are expected to be open. There is also talk of a 'satellite union' with bar and meeting facilities, however, this still has to be confirmed. |
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Posted by Unregistered User ba'heid at 11:45, 6th May 2004 |
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this subject
i thought 'David Russell Hall' was a person but i'm just a dumb aussie web surfing! cheers from the Blue Mountains (160 kms west of Sydney and a million miles from caring a $#@%!)
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