Along with newfound independence, finance management and a college-level workload, some incoming freshmen may have to worry about finding a bed to sleep in.
University residence halls are the fullest they’ve ever been, and if the housing department doesn’t see a decline in residents this week, some freshmen may have to forgo the traditional first year experience and find an off-campus residence.
Despite the Living Learning Center’s grand opening last year, which provided living space for an additional 387 students, University Housing is currently accommodating approximately 3,600 residents – 100 more than it can comfortably manage, Associate Director of Housing Allen Gidley said.
All students who submitted applications before Sept. 17, were provided housing, he said. Those who applied during Week of Welcome were not guaranteed spots and were told to check back today.
“We have virtually no empty beds out there,” said Gidley. “We have not accepted any more applications than what we can accommodate.”
But because many registered residents often cancel or don’t show up, freshmen who weren’t able to sign up last week likely will be accommodated later, Gidley said.
At the beginning of move-in week last year, 3,475 students lived in the residence halls. By week four, that number had dropped to 3,429.
A higher student return rate to the residence halls accounts for some of this year’s overcrowding, but a surge in reservations is mostly to blame.
When University freshman Katy Sharman found out she would be living off-campus in Riley Hall, she tried to transfer to an on-campus residence hall. She and her parents sent numerous e-mails to the housing department pushing for the switch but were informed of the space constraints and told to check back later.
Sharman doesn’t know anybody with friends from Riley Hall and is worried that she will have trouble connecting with freshmen on-campus who will meet through ice-breaker events.
“I thought maybe I was going to be removed from the social scene or something like that,” Sharman said.
Although she’s already dealing with the inconvenience of traveling to and from campus by bus, Sharman never seriously considered finding an apartment or house.
“I wanted the dorm life the first year no matter what,” she said.
Residence Hall Association President and University junior Keith Bassett said programming and leadership management within the residence halls will not change despite the additional residents.
Senior Noah Horwitz, RHA national communications coordinator, is similarly optimistic.
“We just get to be happy in the knowledge that we’re going to be able to program to a few more people,” Horwitz said.
In previous years, the housing department provided extra space in the residence halls as a remedy for housing overflow. Students moved bunk beds into lounges. Gidley said that will not happen this year. Rather, the housing department reduced the availability of single rooms, converting some to doubles.
Although housing applications reserve spots for the academic year, an influx of residents will occur in winter term when some students voluntarily leave the residence halls. Gidley said the housing department will accept those applications when the time comes.
“We manage that pretty carefully before we commit,” said Gidley.
Sharman said the housing department has been understanding and cooperative, and she appreciates the help.
“I know that they’re doing the best they can,” she said.
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