Different than Sandburg is the ability for RiverView residents to use their laptops wirelessly throughout the building.

Students who have just recently moved into RiverView Residence Hall are enjoying the new technology that is present throughout the building. In a recent phone interview with Bud Macowski, assistant director of Auxiliary Services, I was able to find out more technical specifications on these items.

“First of all, I feel that RiverView is a very comfortable place to live,” he said. Macowski added that he enjoys working in the building because of the large glass panel windows, installed by a local company, that showcase magnificent views of the river.

The lobby areas that make up the different floors of RiverView showcase these breathtaking views and feature Hitachi high-definition, widescreen televisions.

Ken Busch, assistant director of University Housing, said that these TVs use Time Warner Cable to provide students with a variety of digital cable channels.

Macowski also noted that the security system that runs the building was installed by Johnson Controls, Inc.

This security system is similar to Kenilworth in that all doors to the building are locked and only those with card key access are allowed to enter. At night, students are only allowed to enter through the main entrance and once they swipe their card they must pass another station where residence staff swipe student IDs to match photo identification. Macowski added that there are many security cameras inside and outside of the building, just like in Sandburg.

The four computer kiosks that are scattered throughout the main lobby of RiverView allow students to check their email or PAWS quickly. Macowski told me that these Dell computers will soon be swapped out for Sun Ray computers that are similar to the ones located in other computer kiosk areas on campus.

In each dorm room, there is one cable hookup that can be split by multiple residents for TV use and two data hookups for Internet connection. Different than Sandburg is the ability for RiverView residents to use their laptops wirelessly throughout the building. Macowski explained to me that the wireless Internet feature also allows students get online everywhere from the third floor entryway to the cafeteria to The Grind coffee shop.

The Grind in Riverview is similar to the one located in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Union. There is also a small general store in RiverView similar to the Emporium in Sandburg. All of these establishments, including the cafeteria, are equipped to take credit and debit cards for payment as well as cash and student IDs with meal plan allowance.

Similar to Sandburg, RiverView residents also have the ability to check their laundry cycles via the “Laundry Web Alert”. This program monitors the wash and dry cycles of the washers and dryers in Riverview and lets residents know when their load is done.

Macowski and Busch agree that they are very happy with the completion of the RiverView residence hall. They also enjoy working in the building because they are able to see students study in the numerous walkways and lounges without having to carry around various cables to get online. “RiverView is a very nice facility,” Macowksi said.

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