吃瓜爆料

There are 11 residence options at 吃瓜爆料. From traditional halls to our sought-after apartments, more than 90% of students choose to live on campus for a reason. And while each building has its own story and community, I have a personal favorite 鈥� Jonsson Tower.

The Jonssons

Let鈥檚 start with a little history.

Jonsson Tower is named for Margaret Jonsson, who was married to former 吃瓜爆料 Trustee J. Erik Jonsson. Together, they played a major role in 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 history.

Flash back to the late 1950s and 吃瓜爆料 is at its old campus in downtown Saratoga Springs. Enrollment was rising and the need for new, innovative facilities was growing. A move was imminent 鈥� but where? Cue the Jonssons.

The couple donated the funds to purchase a beautiful property, known then as the Woodlawn Estate, and challenged their friends and peers to imagine a completely new home for 吃瓜爆料, a location that would also be home to their daughter, Margaret Jonsson 鈥�60.

Suffice it to say, if it weren鈥檛 for the Jonssons, we may not have the campus we know and love today.

The size of it

鈥淛oTo,鈥� as those who love it commonly call it, is a central landmark. At 12 stories tall, it鈥檚 a recognizable part of the 吃瓜爆料 skyline. And when it lights up at night, it transforms into a beacon 鈥� a comforting sight that reminds you you鈥檙e home.

All that height means there鈥檚 a lot of space for living, too.

JoTo is home to 202 residential rooms 鈥� 68 doubles and 134 singles 鈥� and nearly 300 students. You'll likely always have at least one friend who lives there.

The penthouse

JoTo鈥檚 12th-floor penthouse lounge is the highest point in Saratoga Springs. Lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, my favorite hangout and homework spot offers spectacular views of campus, Saratoga and the surrounding mountains and forests. If there鈥檚 a better place to watch the sunset around here, I鈥檝e yet to find it.

And while you鈥檒l want to take the elevator to get there most days, you may also want to try 鈥渉iking鈥� up all those stairs during Outing Club鈥檚 annual 鈥淗ike JoTo鈥� event. 

The resources

This building isn鈥檛 just a place to live, it鈥檚 also home to some of the most important student services.

Campus Safety is on the ground floor, so if you ever get locked out of your room or lose your 吃瓜爆料 ID, you don鈥檛 even need to leave the building for help.

Health Services and the Counseling Center are both conveniently located on the first floor. It鈥檚 nice to know these resources are just a few floors below you.

吃瓜爆料鈥檚 WSPN studio, where students take turns hosting their radio shows, is also in JoTo. And whether you鈥檙e a current WSPN listener or alum, you know how magical it is to jam in JoTo.

And, it wouldn鈥檛 be a story about JoTo without mentioning the vending machines. Hands down, this place absolutely has the best selection of all of the residence halls. 

The community

When you mix size, resources and location together, you get a pretty awesome community. In fact, JoTo can sometimes feel like its own special, vertical village.

Some of my closest friends lived directly above and below me, making "Brady Bunch"-like goodnight rounds a regular occurrence.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening on the eighth floor?鈥� 鈥淲ho鈥檚 set up in the WSPN studio right now?鈥� 鈥淚s anyone in the penthouse?鈥� Walking up and down to various rooms throughout the building feels like exploring a cruise ship.   

While not exclusive to JoTo, our incredible resident assistants also work hard to cultivate a sense of community by hosting floor socials and group meetings to make sure everyone is doing well. Some even oversee special-interest communities housed there, including the global and multicultural communities.

The all-out creative way we live

With so many students living on campus, there鈥檚 going to be a place for everyone.

While I鈥檇 always known JoTo is my favorite, this sentiment was recently solidified when I walked in at 1:30 a.m. and discovered two students camped out in the elevator playing Uno.

I couldn鈥檛 help but laugh to myself and say, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 so JoTo.鈥�