With residence hall capacities higher than they have been in years, the University of Wisconsin-superior is looking for ways to not only expand dorm capacity, but also provide more housing options to students who already live there.

This will be accomplished by renovations to Ross and Hawkes Halls near the south end of campus. However, such renovations are still a couple years away at the very least.

"We don't know exactly what will happen year," said University of Wisconsin-Superior Residence Life director Ryan Kreuser.

Keruser said that first the plan to renovate Hawkes and Ross Halls will need the building commission's approval, and then the renovation plans will need budget approval from the state of Wisconsin. Funding for the project will come from the tenants who are renting the rooms.

In any event, Kreuser says that the project will not begin until 2012 at the earliest. The University has requested $13 million for the project according to a report in the Superior Telegram.

The project is in the pre-engineering and design stage where measurements are being taken of how much space is available.

As for the reasoning behind renovating Ross and Hawkes Halls, Kreuser says the primary intentions are to bring the halls up to maintenance codes as well as making them more appealing to students.

He says that in the twenty years Hawkes Hall has been rented out to various organizations, walls have been removed and there has been little maintenance on the building in general.

Having Hawkes as another housing option on campus is a benefit and will encourage more students to continue living on-campus, says Kreuser.

"I think students enjoy the on-campus experience, and this will give them more [housing] options," he said.

Students also are excited about the possibility of more living space and possibly more single rooms.

"I think [renovations] would be a great idea," said sophomore Kayla Burfeind, "I like the idea of more suites and different living arrangements from the standard two-person block."

Meanwhile, Senior Andrew Klimek commented about the possibility of living with less people.

"I contend that if you are alone, it will help people focus on academics... I wouldn't mind seeing more single rooms," he said.