Waneta Hall is named after a famous Sioux Indian chief WANETA
("He Who Rushes On"). Waneta, was "a steadfast ally of
the British in the War of 1812, was born in about 1795 on the Elm River
in northern South Dakota. He was the son of the Shappa Indian Red Thunder.
Both men enlisted in the British army for the War of 1812 and fought with
storied bravery. Waneta was badly injured at the Battle of Sandusky. The
British later commissioned Waneta a captain and invited him to London.
By 1825, Waneta had allied with the Americans and rejected the British.
He signed the Treaty of Fort Pierre (1825) and the Treaty of Prarie du
Chien (1825).... Waneta died at fifty-three years of age near the
present-day Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota" (B.E.Johansen
& D.A.Grinde, Jr. The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography 1997,
p. 406).
The Waneta Complex is joined with Hansen Hall to form the
Medary area. So named because of the dining service located on the corner
of Medary and 11th Street, where most residents of this area choose to
get their meals.
The Waneta Complex is actually two halls that are connected: Waneta
Hall and Wecota Annex. Each hall is unique and offers different
living environments for its residents. The Complex is located on the west
side of campus with a main entrance that faces 9th street. The Waneta
complex is just that, “complex”. To help you understand each
hall they need to be describe separately.
Waneta Hall is the anchor of the complex, a three story hall built in
1959. In the summer of 2003 there was a total replacement of the heating
system in the hall. The heating renovation was the first of its kind
on campus in a traditional residence hall. The end result of the
renovation allows each room to individually control the heat in their room
by using a wall mounted thermostat rather than the old fashioned way of
opening and closing the window. Waneta has floor lounges located on the
second and third floors which are used for programs and study space. The
main lobby was totally refurbished in 2002 with new blinds and furniture.
The lobby area contains a pool table and foosball table available to hall
residents as well as wireless internet access.
Wecota Annex
Wecota Annex was built in 1940 as an extension of Wecota Hall and is attached
to Waneta and Wecota Halls by enclosed walkways. The hall is currently
used as single rooms for required and non-required students. The rooms are
the old style where everything in the room, with the exception of the chair,
is attached to the walls. These rooms offer a nice cozy environment for
residents. The Wecota Annex is a four-story hall with a dayroom on first
and fourth floors, and a small kitchenette on second and third floors. The laundry and study
area are in the lower level.
Waneta houses 213 residents at full occupancy. The Annex
follows with 70 residents when used as single rooms. Waneta hall
is co-ed with the 1st floor being male, 2nd floor being female and the 3rd
is split by wing male/female. Annex
residents are usually assigned with women on the 3rd and 4th floors with
the men on the lower two floors.
The buildings'
staff
includes
Resident
Assistants (RA) living on each wing or floor depending on the
area of the complex, and a full-time, live-in professional
Residence
Hall Director (RHD) who lives in an apartment on the first
floor of Waneta Hall. Besides these live-in staff there is a group of
department custodian and maintenance staff members that strive to keep the
complex a clean and safe living learning environment. Waneta
Hall residents can join the Waneta Hall Government which is a student
group dedicated to provide programs and hall improvements. All residents
are encouraged to get involved in their hall government and the campus
wide Resident Hall Association (RHA).
Questions
and Answers for Waneta Complex:
Is there a computer lab in the hall?
Yes! New in 2006 there is a small computer
lab located on the first floor of the building. If this lab is
full however, there is large computer lab in Hansen Hall which is just across
the street.
How large are the rooms? Rooms are 10’4”
wide by 14’8” from door to outside wall in Waneta; Annex rooms average 9’
wide by 14’1” long.
Are there study areas in the hall? Yes. The
complex has several rooms of various sizes for students to find a quiet
place to study.
What is the closest dining facility to Waneta Complex?
The building is next to the Medary dining
area located in the Medary Commons. The commons also has one of the campus
c-stores located in the dining area for residents.
What will my room look like? Waneta Complex
residents have several types of rooms located within the complex. Waneta
is similar
to other traditional halls. The Annex
has everything fixed to the wall including built in bunk beds. Residents may add their personalities
to their rooms by arranging the furniture, adding pictures, posters, plants,
etc. to their rooms. However, they should check the
Residence
Hall Handbook (RHH) to be sure what they have planned does not violate
any policies and guidelines or damages the room or it’s furnishings.
For more photos of the halls and photos of the rooms as they will look
when you arrive -
click
here.
Can I bring my own furniture? Yes. Residents
may bring some of their own furniture as described in the
Residence
Hall Handbook (RHH). However, residents of Waneta, and the Annex will not be able to rent or build a loft. These
rooms are already equipped with fixed or movable furniture.
What is the mailing address? The mailing
address for Waneta (Annex) residents is as follows:
