Spring Break
Housing shortages affects incoming class
Sumeet Patel
Issue date: 9/21/05 Section: News
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The Office of University Housing underwent preparations throughout Sept. to provide accommodations for 75 additional incoming students who did not receive on campus housing.
These students will be lodged in makeshift dormitories comprised of student lounges in Calhoun, Myers and Kelly residence halls. Although the makeshift residences will house three, four and five students per lounge, respectively, Director of University Housing Michael Scales claims that these students will have access to the same residential living resources as other residents despite the circumstances.
"These [excess number of] students will be charged the standard rate for the building because they will have the same amenities as a regular room such as Resnet," Scales told The Triangle. "Actually, the square footage per resident assigned to a lounge is greater than that of a student in regular room assignment."
However, there will not be a proportional increase in residential living staff despite the increased number of students.
"An increase of a few additional residents per floor will not affect the overall quality of living," Director of the Office of Residential Living José-Luis Riera said. "I am confident the Resident Assistants will be able to adequately provide for the extra students."
An increased interest in on-campus housing over the years is not a new concern to the Office of University Housing. In most circumstances, however, attrition rates among students help compensate the short supply of residential housing. This year, however, there was an unusually high number of first year and transfer applicants who applied for on-campus housing past the application deadline.
"We received many housing applications after the deadline which resulted in us temporarily assigning students into rooms converted from lounges," Scales said. "As soon as space becomes available in a regular residence hall room, these students will be given another assignment."
These students will be lodged in makeshift dormitories comprised of student lounges in Calhoun, Myers and Kelly residence halls. Although the makeshift residences will house three, four and five students per lounge, respectively, Director of University Housing Michael Scales claims that these students will have access to the same residential living resources as other residents despite the circumstances.
"These [excess number of] students will be charged the standard rate for the building because they will have the same amenities as a regular room such as Resnet," Scales told The Triangle. "Actually, the square footage per resident assigned to a lounge is greater than that of a student in regular room assignment."
However, there will not be a proportional increase in residential living staff despite the increased number of students.
"An increase of a few additional residents per floor will not affect the overall quality of living," Director of the Office of Residential Living José-Luis Riera said. "I am confident the Resident Assistants will be able to adequately provide for the extra students."
An increased interest in on-campus housing over the years is not a new concern to the Office of University Housing. In most circumstances, however, attrition rates among students help compensate the short supply of residential housing. This year, however, there was an unusually high number of first year and transfer applicants who applied for on-campus housing past the application deadline.
"We received many housing applications after the deadline which resulted in us temporarily assigning students into rooms converted from lounges," Scales said. "As soon as space becomes available in a regular residence hall room, these students will be given another assignment."
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