Residential hall life can be a trying experience: The rooms are cramped, claustrophobic, closet-sized spaces with all the stylishness of Soviet-block architecture; the dreaded “freshman 15” – so called for the amount of weight freshmen purportedly gain – soften students around the edges; then there are the prices, approximately $3,000 per term for a double room with a meal plan – seemingly disproportional to the services provided.
But when it comes to the residential halls, it is caveat emptor – let the buyer beware. Generally speaking, the University gives students and their parents enough information concerning residential halls and residential hall life, including move-in and move-out dates and times. But these dates and times are severely restrictive.
The University closes for winter break, during which time freshmen are required to temporarily move out or pay an exorbitant fee of $330 ($510 for Barnhart). Students cannot return to the residential halls until the Sunday before winter term, leaving many students with an insufficient amount of time to buy books and situate themselves for winter term.
Associate Director of Resident Life Sheri Donahoe maintains that the closure is not about saving the University money. “It’s overall about keeping students safe,” said Donahoe. “The University as a whole is closed.”
This is not entirely true. Many University buildings, and thus services, re-open at various times before winter term begins – including the Knight Library, the EMU and the Recreation Center, which operates using reduced hours during winter break. The residential halls, on the other hand, remain closed – in the name of “safety,” of course.
One cannot expect University Housing to be amenable to the needs of every individual student. The restrictive move-in date, though, unduly burdens students who must travel long distances to return. Students should expect more for their money.
Housing attempts to alleviate concerns over its policies by directing students and their parents to affordable motels, if students must arrive back to Eugene early. No matter how affordable the motel is, it remains an economic burden. University Housing should give students greater choice.
It seems feasible that University Housing could open its doors to at least some students earlier than the day before classes begin without levying monetary punishment. How much earlier is debatable. Donahoe states that, Resident Hall Assistants return on the Friday before the new term to undergo training. Giving students a few extra days would help considerably, allowing them to plan ahead.
Students living in the residential halls deserve better. Housing finally gave students access to “rollover” meal points after many years of fighting the policy; now it is time for Housing to give its paying customers even more choice and allow students to move in earlier than the day before classes begin.